which our Saviour set us so perfect an example. HARRIETTE. Yes, but Jonah had not that last advantage, you know; and very likely his parents might not have taken pains to correct his temper when he was young. LYDIA. At any rate, he must have had some very good qualities, or I should not think God would have chosen him for a prophet. HARRIETTE. How very good it was of God to make the gourd spring up on purpose to explain to Jonah his meaning! ANNE. In the same merciful manner he regulates the events of our lives. He puts no blessings into our hands, nor does he take any from us, without designing, both by the gift and the removal, to make us wiser and better. His goodness is equally to be acknowledged in the mercies we possess, and in the losses we suffer. ELLEN. I wonder what was the use of Lydia's being so ill last winter? ANNE. Perhaps to make her patient under suffering, and to teach her better to appreciate the blessing of health, and to be less careless of it for the future. Besides, it gave us all opportunities of showing affection for her in various little acts of kindness, and by threatening to deprive us of her, made us sensible how dear she was to us; and, I hope, more grateful to that Providence who restored her. But this reminds me that we are perhaps hazarding her health, by exposing her to the evening air; therefore let us return. ELLEN. Let us talk a little more about Jonah as we go down the hill. If God was so very good and patient to him who was so perverse, don't you think, Anne, he will be much more so to those that take pains to do his will, and make no complaints? ANNE. I do indeed. If we love and fear him as we ought, we may depend upon his protection and loving-kindness. "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ear is open to their cry." Harriette, do you think you can repeat that pretty hymn of Cowper's, called Submission? HARRIETTE. I will try. * I. "Oh Lord! my best desires fulfil, And help me to resign Life, health, and comfort, to thy will, II. Why should I shrink at thy command, Or tremble at thy gracious hand, That wipes away my tears? III. No, let me rather freely yield IV. Wisdom and mercy guide my way; V. But, ah! my heart within me cries, Else, the next cloud that veils the skies You said just now, Anne, that God will protect those who love and fear him as they ought. Do you know, I feel as if I loved him so very much that I am not afraid of him. I cannot help thinking that he is so very very good that he will never do any harm to me. I love him and try to please him, and I think if any body was to do so to me, I should not feel inclined to punish them. Now, you know he is a great deal kinder and more compassionate than I am, or can be; and when I think of that, I feel as if I never could be afraid of him while I try to please him, and this seems to make me love him more. Is this wrong? ANNE. Oh no! indeed, my dear Harriette. It says in the Bible, "perfect love casteth out fear." This is just as you should feel, but as few people except young children do feel, because, as we grow up, almost all of us do something to forfeit our self-esteem, which makes us fear the just displeasure of God; and, though we may repent and amend, we can scarcely ever be exactly sure of the just degree of punishment we deserve, and this makes us unhappy and fear God, as well as love him. But even this is better, much better, than neither fearing nor loving him, which is the case with some persons. And, by very strict attention to our conduct, we may after some time regain our selfapprobation and love of God untainted by fear, which is what our Saviour means by being "born again." Keep your present feelings, my dear Harriette, as long as you can, and remember, " of such is the kingdom of heaven!" |