CONVERSATION VI. Mother. Who is it then, my dear child, that preserves you? Mother. Then God must needs be with you do not you think so? Child. Indeed I cannot tell. Mother: Can you do or perform any thing in the house, when you are not within ? Mother. Can you walk in the street when you are not in the street? Child. Mother. he is not Child. No. Then a man can do nothing where do you mean to say so? Yes, when a man is absent, there he working or doing something, he must be present is it not so? Child. Yes. Mother. Then it follows, that wherever God doeth something, he must be present. Now, he preserves, as you know already, the sun, the moon, the earth, men, the beasts, and all things whatsoever : where, or in what place then is God? Child. God must be every where. Mother. Yes, my dear child, so he is indeed! God is omnipresent; for he works every where, through his great power. Child. But how can God be in the sun, far above us, and at the same time with men on earth? Mother. God is a spirit, like your soul. every where? Mother. No, your soul is not every where, and for that reason it differs from God. Does not your hand move the moment the soul desires? Child. Yes. Mother. And the foot likewise, if the soul wishes? Child. Yes. Mother. From this it is evident, that your soul must be near your body: do not you think so? Child. Certainly, it cannot be otherwise. Mother. And do you remember, and have you understood what I told you yesterday, that no creature is capable of preserving itself? Child. I both remember and understand it. Mother. And is it not God who preserves every thing? Mother. Thus, as God works every where, he must be omnipresent; but how, and in what manner, this is done, we cannot entirely comprehend. Child. And why not? Mother. Because we are not every where, and because our understanding cannot comprehend many things relating to God; nevertheless it is so, and is asserted in, and confirmed by the holy Scripture." Jeremiah, xxiii. "23, 24. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not Į fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Psalm cxxxix. 7-10. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Romans, xi. 36. For of him, and through him, and to him are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. CONVERSATION VII. Mother. Who then, my dear child, has en abled you to see? Child. Our good and kind God. Mother. see? Then God himself must be able to Child. No doubt; else he could not have created me, nor given me eyes to see. Mother. But are you the only one God has created? Child. No; he has created every one, and all things. Mother. Then he must know every one, and all things? Child. It cannot be otherwise. Mother. And who preserves every thing? Child. It is God who gives life and breath to every one. Mother. Then God must know every thing t Child. Yes, for he has created every thing, and preserves it. Mother. But when you are quite alone, or in the dark, does God see you then? Child. In the dark? really I do not know. Mother. Does God preserve you even when you are in the dark? Mother. Then he must be with you also there do not you think so? Child. Certainly. Mother. He must therefore see you, and consequently know what you do in the dark. Child. Now I understand. Yes, God preserves me likewise during the night. Mother. Now then, if God preserves your soul, should he not know whether it be good or wicked? whether its thoughts be inclining towards good or evil? Child. No doubt. Mother. Very well, my dear child. God preserves your soul: he therefore knows all your thoughts-all your desires. Even in the dark he sees you. Oh, keep this in mind! and never harbour any evil thoughts within you. What would it profit you if you could deceive men by your outward actions, and at the same |