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"Yes, I have five sons, my oldest is named Theophilus, my others, Samuel, George, etc."

"Well, but are they not all Packards, the Samuel as well as the Theophilus? and is there any more impropriety in calling George the youngest, a Packard, than in calling The-ophilus, the oldest, a Packard?"

"Why, no, not in that sense."

"Just so it is in God's family -- all his sons are Jesus Christs as much as the first, just as soon as they become perfectly developed into his spirit. Such are Jesus Christs, whether on earth .or in heaven, as much as Jesus of Nazareth was; but they are all different persons. There is but one Jesus of Nazareth, but there are as many Christs as there are true perfected men. Such are all brothers bearing the same com-mon name, after Christ is fully developed in them."

"Then you claim that the Christ is fully developed in you, do you, and that on this account you call yourself Jesus Christ?"

"Yes, I do. I consider that I am now perfect in God's estimation, in the same sense that his oldest son was perfect. This is fulfilling the command to 'be ye perfect in Christ Jesus' -meaning, perfect in Christ Jesus' estimation. I am not perfect in the estimation of the church, or the world; but in God's estimation, I have obeyed his command, in this re-spect. Do you think God would have commanded his children. to do impossibilities? and if they could not become perfect in His estimation, he is an unreasonable being in issuing such a command."

So here my "Mr. Jesus Christ" had explained himself to simply mean that he was a perfect man. He insists that he is not the Christ, the world's Saviour, but simply a perfect person in Christ Jesus' estimation.

Now, where is his insanity? even his "hobby," where has that gone?

Just into the belief of the perfectionists, as it was defended by Dr. Finney and others of this class.

Now comes the question, shall this man be locked up in an "Asylum" because he says he is a perfect man -- in a style of language peculiar to himself -- in order to force him to abandon his originality of expression, and become an echo of other men's forms of expression?

Yes, because he is insane on this point.

Insane! because he chooses to utter an opinion respecting his own character in original language! What a dangerous person to be allowed his liberty! Won't he kill somebody? for somebody has chosen to call this peculiarity insanity, in-stead of a singular mode of expression.

Still he is dangerous, for we do not know what an insane person might do, although his opinions of himself seems to be true -- that is -- he seems to exhibit the Christ spirit to an uncommon degree, yet he may kill somebody! therefore he must be locked up.

It won't do to wait until he has killed somebody and then imprison him as we do criminals after they have committed a crime.

We must imprison this man not only before he has com-mitted any crime, but even before he has shown the first indi-cation that he ever intended to commit a criminal offense!

Yes, he claims that he is Jesus Christ, and so long as he acts like Jesus Christ, he must be locked up to make him like other people, lest he kill somebody!

Now I think if all those who call themselves "Jesus Christ," and act like Jesus Christ, ought to be locked up for fear they may kill somebody, all those who call themselves "totally depraved," and act as though they are totally depraved, ought to be locked up also, for fear they may kill somebody too!

CHAPTER LIII.
My First Opportunity for Self-Defence.

A few days prior to the September meeting of the Trustees, 1862, in a familiar conversation I had with Dr. McFarland in my room, I remarked:

"Doctor, I don't like to spend my days here doing nothing; why can't I fire a few guns at Calvinism, before those Trus-tees, who are to meet in a few days?"

"Why, Mrs. Packard, they are Calvinists, and the chair-man is a member of the Presbyterian Synod of the United States!"

"I don't care for that -- I should not hesitate to give my views before the Synod itself, if allowed. And besides, it is all the better for your cause that they are, for my views will be likely to be regarded by them as insane, because a difference of opinion is insanity you know -- on the minority side of the question of course! Now one, alone, against so many -- and that one a woman, too -- what have you to fear? "

This was enough. He was converted into a free and full consent that I might "fire all the guns" I pleased at Calvin-ism, and he would furnish me with all the paper I wished to write my views upon.

"Now," thought he, "Mrs. Packard will unmask herself, thus demonstrating to the Trustees that I represent her cor-rectly in calling her insane. Yes, she'll hang herself!"

The Doctor was true to his promise, and brought me paper himself, the first sheet he had ever given me, and I, true to my engagement, made out the most clear, concise, and comprehensive view I could of the whole system of Calvinism, as I viewed it, by contrasting each principle with the Christian principle, showing the system to be "doctrines of devils," instead of doctrines of Christ!