ild. Isn't it too late, father? O why would you it, father? Was you angry with me, and would et me, father? What if God should let me go unish me everlastingly, as you said? I wish you cted it, father.'

ild, it is not too late, as you shall know by

THE FAMILY INSTRUCTOR.

13

rn to serve God, though you are a

w how to serve God, fa

"saw you teach him.

Can't

en, father, what is God? I would fain see him? To be sure I should know

nnot see him: "No mortal eye

hen what he is?

v the scriptures, by reading

`n he has given of himself ar Bible.

t know him by reading my

my book often, but I know nothing you tell me what God is, father?

No words can express his being, or describe him, Child. How shall I know then by reading, father? Fath. I mean, child, no words can express it fully; but the Spirit of God expounds the word of God to us, and by that Spirit he teaches us the knowledge of himself.

Child. But you can tell me something of him, father? You say he dwells up there: what is he like, father?

Fath. God is one, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, invisible being; the first cause of all things; the giver of life and being to all things; existing prior, and therefore superior to all things; infinitely perfect, great, holy, just, wise, and good.

Child. These are hard words, father; how shall I understand them? What do you mean by the word infinite, for I see you put that in among the rest over and over?

Fath. Why, child, infinite is a word to signify something beyond all that is known, and can only be described in thought; and those thoughts only describe it by acknow

[Conviction of sin thus working up to a love to God, a fear of God, and a desire of serving God, which is holiness, may be well allowed here to be an appearance of converting grace in the heart of a little one.]

very

[The father takes notice of it as such.]

Fath. That's a true principle to begin to serve God from, my dear; for God accepts no fear but what is founded in our love to him; pray, then, my dear, that he will increase your love to him, that you may serve him acceptably.

Child. But, dear father, you say God dwells up there in heaven; how can he hear what I say? I can't speak loud enough to be heard so far; and then, though God could hear me, how does he know when I speak as my heart means?

Fath. Yes, child, God can hear and know, for he is infinite.

Child. What is that, father?

Fath. Why, child, it takes in all the attributes of God. Child. I don't know these hard words, father. Pray, who is God, and what is he? Can't you tell me, father, so as I may understand it?

Fath. It is very hard to give a description of God to thy understanding, my dear.

Child. And that is the reason you never said any thing of him to me, father; is it not? Must not I know who God is till I am a man, father?

Fath. Yes, child; the scripture says, "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

Child. But, dear father, how shall I remember him? I never heard any thing of him, you never told me a word of him yet; may be I an't a youth yet; I long to be a youth, father; then you'll tell me who God is, that I may remember him, father, won't you?

Fath. Dear child! you ought to have been told who God is before now; indeed I have neglected to instruct thee as I ought to have done; but I'll tell thee now, my dear.

Child. Isn't it too late, father? O why would you neglect it, father? Was you angry with me, and would not instruct me, father? What if God should let me go now, and punish me everlastingly, as you said? I wish you had not neglected it, father.

Fath. No, child, it is not too late, as you shall know by and by.

Child. Tell me then, father, what is God? I would fain know God. Can't I see him? To be sure I should know him if I could see him.

Fath. No, child, you cannot see him: "No mortal eye hath seen God at any time."

Child. How shall I know then what he is?

Fath. You must know God by the scriptures, by reading and by meditating on the revelation he has given of himself there; you must read of him in your Bible.

Child. But, father, I can't know him by reading my book; I have read my book often, but I know nothing about God: can't you tell me what God is, father?

Fath. No words can express his being, or describe him. Child. How shall I know then by reading, father? Fath. I mean, child, no words can express it fully; but the Spirit of God expounds the word of God to us, and by that Spirit he teaches us the knowledge of himself.

Child. But you can tell me something of him, father? You say he dwells up there: what is he like, father?

Fath. God is one, infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, invisible being; the first cause of all things; the giver of life and being to all things; existing prior, and therefore superior to all things; infinitely perfect, great, holy, just, wise, and good.

Child. These are hard words, father; how shall I understand them? What do you mean by the word infinite, for I see you put that in among the rest over and over?

Fath. Why, child, infinite is a word to signify something beyond all that is known, and can only be described in thought; and those thoughts only describe it by acknow

ledging that they cannot describe it. But thus much you may understand by it :-That which was before all things, and shall continue after them; that he hath power to make all things, and the same power preserves and maintains all things, and at last will put all things to an end. Of the particulars, you may understand thus: that he is infinitely great, signifies, that he has made thee, my dear, and all the people in the world; that he is infinitely wise, signifies, that he knows every thought in the heart, and that implies, that he hears every word that is spoken, and sees every action that is done, though ever so secret; that he is infinitely holy and just, signifies, that he hates all that is evil, and will punish it; that he is infinitely good, signifies, that he loves every good action, and will reward it; that he is infinitely powerful, signifies, that all other powers move and act by him; "for by him we live, and move, and have our being." Dost thou know him, child, by this description?

Child. I am wondering! father, I don't say I know, but I wonder! I am afraid, I tremble! father, sure God is very dreadful!

Fath. He is so, child.

Child. Does he ever speak, father? Can't I hear him speak?

Fath. His voice is terrible, and is a consuming fire. thou canst not hear him speak, my dear.

Child. My nurse said, father, that when it thundered, it was God spoke. What is the thunder and lightning, father? Is that God?

Fath. No, my dear, it is the work of God, as all the rest of the creation is his work, but no otherwise; the voice of God is compared to thunder, indeed, but God speaks to us in another kind of voice than that.

Child. What voice is that, father?

Fath. The voice of the gospel, and the voice of his crea

tures.

Child. What is that, father? I never heard it; may I

hear that voice? I would fain hear God speak, father; for I would do what he bids me, and never make him angry.

Fath. The gospel is the word of God, the message of life sent from heaven, revealed in the scriptures, and preached by his servants, the ministers; this is the voice I mean, child.

Child. I don't understand it, father.

Fath. Why the Bible is the word of God, it was dictated by the inspiration of the Spirit of God; when you read in the Bible, you are to believe that God speaks to you in the words you read; this is his voice.

Child. Why! doth God speak to me when I read my book, father?

Fath. Yes, my dear.

Child. But then, what if I do not understand it? then it is nothing to me; how shall I do to know what I read? Fath. You shall be taught, my dear.

Child. Who should teach me; won't God make me understand what he says when I read my book?

Fath. Indeed I should have taught thee, my dear, that

is true.

[The Lord pardon me, I have too much neglected it, says the father aside; and turning away his head, cannot refrain tears.]

Child. Dear father, tell me, what does my book say? what shall I learn there of God?

Fath. You will learn that God is from the beginning, and to the end; from everlasting to everlasting; has created all things, and knows all things.

Child. Knows all things! that's strange, father; does God know all things?

Fath. Yes, my dear.

Child. If God knows all things, he knows how old I am, and that all this while I never thought of him, nor served him, and never knew any thing of him till now; and be knows father, you never told me any thing of him before

C