The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-01-21
The Children's Question.

The Ch1ldren'S Question.
Cora and Jim were talking earnestly
about something; no one could tell Just
what
Are you sure, Cora? ?" Jim asked.
Yes, l am sure, said Cora, decidedly.
But hon. sure are you, Cora?"
Why, just as sure as that am alive"
replied Cora. Bnt even this did not
satisfy Jim.
What are you two puzzled over ?"
asked Cousin Ray.
Cora says there isn't spot anywhere
where we can hide from God. Mind,
Cousin Ray, we are not talking about
spot in this world, but apeyaOherei Now
it seems to me if we could Just get far
away, off from this world, you know,
there might be place where one could
be quite alone
Alone, without God, jim? What
does David say in that beautiful Psalm p
Jim was not sure that he could say the
Psalm.
"Do you mean the one where David
speaks of going up to heaven and flying
to the uttermost parts of the earth?" he
asked.
'"Yes," said Cousin Ray. eff you like,
will repeat two or three verses, it is so
beautiful. If take wings of the morn
ing, and dwell in the uttermost parts of
the sea; even there shall Thy hand lead
me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
If say, Surely the darkness shall cover
me; even the night shall be light about
me. Yea, the darkness hideth not
from Thee; but the night shineth as the
day the darkness and the light are both
alike to Thee 1t is the one hundred
and thirty-ninth Psalm, children. I ad-
wise you to take it for your evening chap
ter.
az am so glad it is that way, said
Cora. 1t would be dreadful to be in a
place where God is notl'
Yes; but when one has done wrong
one feels like running away to hide, said
Jim, thoughtfully.
replied Cousin Ray. "Do you not know
a better way?"
Yes" said Jim, I suppose we should
go to our Heavenly Father and confess
our sins; He will forgive us for Jesus
sake
But even if we do not think of Gods
eye when we sin, we are quite sure to
hear voice telling of our wrong deed. -
" A voice p, repeated Cora
Yes, the voice of conscience and
conscience seems to tell other folks too
at least is seems to us as though many
people know just the naughty thing we
have done. In old times there lived a
man named Bessus. He was very rich,
and among other things owned a large
number of birds They sang in every
corner of his grounds; but their music
almost set Bessus crazy. He endured it
as long as possible, and then killed every
bird -
"What harm had your birds done ?"
asked one.
"'Ahl' exclaimed Bessus, they were
telling me all the time that [ had killed
my father I could not go to corner of
the grounds that I did not hear the same
story"
True enough, Bessus had killed his
father His conscience troubled him so
much, and he was so full of terror lest
some one should suspect him, that he
imagined the birds knew his secret, and
were telling it to the world. No, dear
children, we cannot escape from God nor
from conscience"
This is blessed thought to those who
really want to walk in the way of Gods
commandments they feel glad that God
sees down into the very depths of their
hearts, and knows just how much they
wish to please him, and how sorry they
are'when they do wrong. They know,
too, that he is ready to forgive, and heir
them to begin all over again.
Be glad then in the truth, "Thou, God
seest me. "-Child's World.