to bring the deep things of God before the youthful mind; but what the Holy Scriptures clearly reveal, must not be kept back from any-" What God hath joined let not man put asunder." It is not simply by man's teaching that we can hope to learn, "but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God." It is the Holy Spirit's office to take of the things of Christ and shew them unto his people; and that children are thus taught of the Lord, we have his own authority. "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight." GEORGIANA AND HER FATHER, &c. &c. CONVERSATION I. "Praise God in his sanctuary, Praise him in the firmament of his power." GEORGIANA had from infancy been accustomed to early rising; a morning walk with her dear father was amongst her chief gratifications, and her well-known tap at his study-door, seldom failed to call forth her indulgent parent ready equipped to accompany her. How much they lose, dear papa, she observed, who waste these pleasant hours in bed. What a pity that such a scene as that which now presents itself, should B be shut out from any who have eyes to behold it! The dew-drops sparkle like the most brilliant gems on the shining leaves. The fields are so green, and the air so fresh and balmy, and the birds from every spray warble forth their little notes so sweetly! O papa, what a beautiful world God has made for us! Very true, my love. Nature does indeed present an animated picture at this sunny season of the year. And we ought never to contemplate it without looking from nature to nature's God. Let us behold the first great cause in every lovely object by which we are surrounded. Let us lift up our hearts in praise to Him who hath given us all things richly to enjoy. Even the exhilarating melody of the birds ought to make us feel what a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful. O what a fair creation this would be if sin had never marred the perfect work of God! Still, papa, God will perfect his own plans; for surely by his word we are taught, that the whole was arranged by an unalterable decree before the foundation of the world. To which particular passage of the sacred record do you allude, Georgiana? There are very many, papa; so many indeed, that they cannot be enumerated; they run through the whole scriptures like the links of a chain which can never be broken. 66 Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world," is our Lord's invitation to his own people, sufficiently convincing to the understanding, but that men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. You are right, my dear; this invitation could only have been given to those whom God the Father had chosen in Christ" before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy and without blame before him in love." Holy and without blame before Him who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity!-O how can we we ever attain such excellence who are in ourselves altogether corrupt? My dear Georgiana, I thought you understood the message of glad tidings better than to ask me such a question. Our fallen nature can never rise, we never in ourselves can attain the smallest particle of excellence; yet we are told, that "without holiness no man shall see the Lord." This holiness is not our own; it is the gift of God, imputed to all the flock of Christ, who was the Lamb, without blemish and without spot, slain from the foundation of the world, fore-ordained to be an all-sufficient atonement for all the sins of his people, and to obtain for them "eternal redemption." By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." 66 But, papa, St. Paul asks, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid." And our Saviour himself |