"Certainly. None can be a Christian without it."
"But how can one tell whether one has it or no?" said Ellen, very gravely.
"Carry your heart and life to the Bible, and see how they agree. The Bible gives a great many signs and descriptions, by which Christians may know themselves know both what they are and what they ought to be. If you find your own feelings and manner of life at one with these Bible words, you may hope that the Holy Spirit has changed you, and set his mark upon you."
"I wish you would tell me of one of those places," said Ellen.
"The Bible is full of them. 'To them that believe Christ is precious,' there is one. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments;' 'He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk even as he walked' 'O how love I thy law!' The Bible is full of them, Ellie; but you have need to ask for great help when you go to try yourself by them; the heart is deceitful."
Ellen looked sober all the rest of the evening, and the next day she pondered the matter a good deal.
"I think I am changed," she said to herself, at last. "I didn't use to like to read the Bible, and now I do very much; I never liked praying in old times, and now, oh! what should I do without it! I didn't love Jesus at all, but I am sure I do now. I don't keep his commandments, but I do try to keep them; I must be changed a little. Oh! I wish Mamma had known it before!"
Weeping with mixed sorrow and thankful joy, Ellen bent her head upon her little Bible to pray that she might be more changed; and then, as she often did, raised the cover to look at the texts in the beloved handwriting.
"I love them that love me, and they that seek me early shall find me."
Ellen's tears were blinding her. "That has come true," she thought.