The Elect Lady — George MacDonald

A novel on the nature of goodness and the concept of the true church from the 19th-century Scottish author of Home Again.
Although one of MacDonald's lesser-known books, The Elect Lady, published in 1888, stands out for the memorable relationship of godliness, trust, honesty, and humility between three children -- Andrew and Sandy Ingram and their friend Dawtie -- whose growth into adulthood MacDonald follows with simple yet moving power. Their relationships provide the foundation for MacDonald's wisdom to shine forth on the nature and purpose of the church, climaxing in the memorable pronouncement from Andrew's mouth: “I don't believe that Jesus cares much for what is called the visible church. But he cares with his very Godhead for those who do as he tells them.”