A smile of pleasure passed over his face, as he quietly asked,—
"What did the angel blot it out with? With a sponge?"
Again was my whole soul stirred within me, as I answered,—
"No, but with the precious blood of Christ. The blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin."
The fountains had at last burst forth. They could not be checked, and my cold heart was melted within me. I felt like a poor guilty sinner, and, turning away, said,—
"My dear wife, we must first find God, if we want to show him to our children. We cannot show them the way, unless we know it ourselves."
And in the silent hour of the night I bowed beside that dear boy, and prayed, "Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief!" My wife, too, united with me, and we prayed jointly for ourselves and our child. And God heard our prayers, and received us, as he always does those who seek him with the whole heart.
| THE WAY TO OVERCOME. |
| When first from slumber waking, No matter what the hour, If you will say, "Dear Jesus, Come, fill me with thy power," You'll find that every trouble And every care and sin Will vanish, surely, fully, Because Christ enters in. It may be late in morning, Or in the dark before, When first you hear his knocking; But open wide the door, And say to him, "Dear Jesus, Come in and take the throne, Lest Satan with his angels Should claim it for his own." For we are weak and sinful, "Led captive at his will." But thou canst "bind the strong man," Our heart with sweetness fill. So would we have "thy presence" From our first waking hour; All through the swift day's moments, Dwell thou with us in power. |