And beckon them away; in flowery paths
Awhile to sport; and then to wander long
Amidst the hills of darkness and of death,
Where hungry beasts, in every thicket hid,
Wait to devour.—Peep of Day.
Rupert knew the words of the first commandment. He answered, “The first commandment is, ‘Thou shalt have no other gods before me.’”
“Now,” said Mr. Penrose, “this commandment forbids our giving that worship, or love, to any other which is due to God alone. If we think of anything besides God when we profess to be thinking of him, and when we seem to be engaged in his worship, then we are putting other gods before him. Now tell me, Rupert, were you thinking much of God when you were in church this morning?”
“No, not very much,” said Rupert, who, with all his faults, generally spoke the truth.
Then Mr. Penrose tried to show Rupert that he had broken the first commandment, by allowing something besides God to have the first place in his mind and heart; but he did not dwell as long upon the subject as he wished to do, because he knew that young people, from their natural dislike to serious truths, can best be instructed by a few hints at a time.
“You say that you did not think much of God, Rupert. Will you tell me candidly what you did think of?”