-and he said very
seriously to his mother,
"Mother, can Mr. Morrison go to heaven if he dies."
She hesitated a moment how to answer him, for, she had taught him that
it is wicked to lie and to swear, and that if a person loves God he
will not be in the habit of committing such sins; so she told him,
that unless Mr. Morrison repented he could not go to heaven.
At another time Eddie and his mother were talking about God's love for
the beings he has made. She told him that God loves every one.
"Does he love Mr. Morrison?" he inquired.
"Yes, God loves Mr. Morrison. He is grieved and offended by his
wickedness, but he loves him. You know I love you, when you have done
wrong, although I am sorry that you have been naughty. I do not cease
to love you. The Bible tells us that while we were sinners, God so
loved us as to send his Son to die for us. He loves all, and wishes
all to repent and believe in Christ, and be happy. He has provided a
way for all who believe to be saved, and it is only because people
love sin more than they love holiness, that they are lost."
Nothing can give us a higher idea of God's love, than the thought that
he loves every one--even his enemies. "God is love." What a blessed,
glorious thought! How it encourages us to trust him at all times!
God does not willingly afflict, nor grieve, nor punish any one. All
that he does, he does from the truest love.
The knowledge that God loves us should lead us to love him. We are
naturally disposed to love those who love us, and always do, unless
there is something repulsive about them. There can be nothing
repulsive about God, for he is love, and we who love him, love him
because he first loved us.
One night, after little Eddie had repeated the Lord's Prayer and his
usual evening petitions, he raised his head, and said to his mother,
"Shan't I pray for Mr. Morrison, now?"
"Yes, dear, if you wish to," she answered.
He bowed his head again, and uttered a simple prayer for the man who
was the occasion of so much trouble and perplexity to his father's
family. He prayed that God would forgive his sins for Jesus' sake, and
make him a good man. It was very pleasant to hear Eddie pray thus, and
to witness his kind and forgiving spirit.
Mr. and Mrs. Dudley have often regretted that the children should have
their early memories saddened by such a neighbour, but perhaps their
heavenly Father wishes to teach them a lesson of forbearance and love
fo
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