"I don't want it there, father; I don't want it there," said the child.
"What, my child, what is it?"
"Why, father, I don't want the angels to write down in God's book all the bad things I have done to-day. I don't want it there; I wish it could be wiped out;" and his distress increased. What could I do? I did not believe, but yet I had been taught the way. I had to console him, so I said,—
"Well, you need not cry; you can have it all wiped out in a minute if you want."
"How, father, how?"
"Why, get down on your knees, and ask God for Christ's sake, to wipe it out, and he will do it."
I did not have to speak twice. He jumped out of bed, saying, "Father, won't you come and help me?"
Now came the trial. The boy's distress was so great, and he pleaded so earnestly, that the man who had never once bowed before God in spirit and in truth, got down on his knees beside that little child, and asked God to wipe away his sins; and perhaps, though my lips did not speak it, my heart included my own sins too. We then rose, and he lay down in his bed again. In a few moments more he said,—
"Father, are you sure it is all wiped out?"
Oh, how the acknowledgment grated upon my unbelieving heart, as the words came to my mouth,—"Why, yes, my son; the Bible says that if from your heart you ask God for Christ's sake to do it, and if you are really sorry for what you have done, it shall be all blotted out."