CHAPTER VIII.

EXECUTION OF GOD'S PURPOSE; OR, THE POOR MINISTER.

QUESTION VIII. _How doth God execute his decrees?_

ANSWER. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

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AFTER being absent three days, Mr. Dermott wrote his wife that he hoped to be with them before the close of the week, and if they chose to put off the catechising until Saturday night, he should be most happy to go through the exercise with them. When the lady read the letter to the children, they unanimously requested that the lesson be postponed until their father returned.

Mrs. Dermott was much pleased to see that the questions which had been explained were frequently talked of during the day, and the illustrations repeated. The account of little Lotty, and of the boy who prized his Bible, were commented upon again and again.

Saturday evening arrived, and great was the disappointment that their father had not yet returned. It was now quite dark, and as Ruth was bringing in the tea, their mother called them to drop the curtains, and take their places at the table. They were scarcely seated, however, when they heard a firm step on the piazza, and all sprang toward the door to welcome the traveller.

"You see I have kept my word," he said, as an hour later they were seated around the cheerful fire. "We have another lesson on the decrees, or plan, of God; and I wished to study it with you. Are we sure that God's plan will not fail?"

"Yes, sir," cried Helen.

"Why so? I made a plan of this house, but I might have died long before it was finished; or I might have changed my mind, and concluded not to build at all; or I might have lost all my property, and not been able to finish it."

"But God can't die, nor lose his property," exclaimed Walter; "and in one of our lessons we learned that he is unchangeable. So we know that he will act according to his plan, or will do as he planned to do."

"Very true, my son," said his father, affectionately patting his shoulder. "He will certainly execute his plan or purpose. Is there any way in which we can learn what his plan, or any part of his plan, is?"

"I should think not, sir," replied the boy.

"But does not the Bible reveal to us his plan for saving sinners?"

Walter blushed as he replied, "Yes, sir; I didn't think of that."

"Yes, the Bible reveals to us the gift of a Saviour.

"To refer once more to my plan. While the building was in progress, I used to hear men talking with the carpenter, curious to know whether the house was to have an L, or a piazza, or an observatory. He smiled pleasantly as he told them to wait and see. We know that God made the world in six days, and that he executed the work of creation according to his plan, previously conceived and adopted. He is still carrying on this work by the creation of human beings.

"God reveals his decree, or purpose, also in his providence, in which the great plan of redemption may be considered as included. The choosing of the Israelites to be his peculiar people—their exodus from Egypt, their rejection of and wicked crucifixion of the Saviour, are parts of his government, or providence, the leaves of which are unfolding every hour.

"'What his soul desireth, even that he doeth.'"

"Nearly a hundred years ago, there was an eminent clergyman by the name of Thoroughgood. He was an exceedingly pious, amiable man; but during a persecution, he was imprisoned and cruelly treated. After his release, he suffered from poverty. One day he and his family were reduced to their last scanty mouthful of food. The children were hanging about their mother crying for bread, which she was unable to give them. With streaming eyes she turned to her husband and asked, 'What shall I do for my poor children?'

"The good man had been greatly moved by the scene. His chin quivered; but gazing at his beloved one, he inquired, in a touching voice, 'Can you not trust in God?'

"Soon after he persuaded his wife to take a walk. A robin was perched upon a bough singing a merry song. He stopped and gazed at it, saying, 'Let us learn a lesson from this bird, who sings his praises to God and trusts him, though he knows not where he shall get his next meal. Let us, my dear wife, trust to the providence of God, who counts us of more value than many sparrows.'

"As they drew near the house on their return, they heard sounds of joy, where so lately there had been only cries of distress; and upon entering, a happy sight awaited them. In the centre of the room, a table was loaded with provisions sufficient to last for many days, while Martha, the faithful serving woman, tearfully pointed to the corner of the room, where stood sack of corn and a bag of flour. The children could scarcely restrain their joy, as their father gratefully raised his hands and eyes to heaven, saying, in a trembling voice, 'They who trust in the Lord shall not want any good thing.'

"Thus you see, dear children, it is safe to trust in the providence of God."