"Now, how was Timothy to prove the reality of his religion in Truth? He was to speak the truth, be honest and honourable in all he said; that was what it meant. Think of that next time you are tempted to tell a lie—will you? God despises lies, He hates them, He calls them an abomination—which is a big strong word, isn't it?
"I know a boy who knew he could not be found out if he told a lie as to the time he had spent preparing his lessons, saying he had given an hour's study to them, because his master would accept his word whatever he said; but if he admitted he had only given ten minutes to it, he would be punished. Yet that boy, when he was asked, 'Did you give half an hour to this lesson as I told you?' answered, 'No, sir.'
"'How long then?'
"'A few minutes, sir.'
"The punishment followed, but when it was over, the boy was happy with a clear conscience—far happier than if he had lied.
"That boy wasn't a prig—a namby-pamby sort; he was a thorough-going, sporting Christian, the same sort as Timothy must have been. The sort God wants.
"A Christian in word. In conversation.
"We are to be examples of Christians in all we say. Are we always? We fail by exaggerating things sometimes, don't we? Perhaps we declare we hate people when we only don't like them much."
Ellice coloured consciously.
"I know another boy," went on Margaret, "who, when his school-fellows were talking nasty talk, not only wouldn't join in, but said to the others, 'Shut up, we won't have anything of that sort here,' and by his influence stopped it. Even if he hadn't succeeded, in trying he was doing what God wanted, wasn't he?"