Allegory

            Mr. Crittenden was once engaged in defending a man who had been indicted for a capital offense.  After an elaborate and powerful argument he closed with the following beautiful and striking allegory:

            When God in His eternal council conceived the thought of man’s creation, He call to Him the three great ministers who wait constantly upon the Throne-Justice, Truth and Mercy-and addressed them: “Shall we make man?”

            Then said Justice, “O God, make him not, for he will trample upon Thy law.”

            Truth answered also, “O God, make him not, for he will pollute Thy sanctuaries.”

            But Mercy dropped upon her knees, looking up through her tears, and exclaimed, “O God, make him.  I will watch over him through all the dark paths which he may have to tread.”

            Then God made man and said to him, “O man, thou art the child of Mercy.  Go and deal with thy brother.”