132 The Love of God.

act of mercy), and therefore we know that He
loves us. He loves us becaufe He has been merciful
tous. If you cannot fee why this fhould be, I
refer you to the following ftory, and advife you to
try for yourfelves. Only be kind to any living
creature, whether a human being, or an irrational
animal, and fee if you can keep your heart from
loving it! Certainly it does not become us to try
to fearch out the unfearchable mind of God, but I
think it is permitted us to hope, that the remark-
able fact of Kindnefs engendering Love, which we
experience in our own hearts, is intended to lead
us upwards as by a holy guiding thread, to fome
comprehenfion of the Love of that God, who in

Chrift Jefus atually gave Himfelf for us.

THE TALE.

Lift up the curtain |
N a baronial hall, not of the fize and grandeur
of that at Warwick Caftle, which thofe who
have never feen fhould try to fee before they die :
but ftill in a hall as antique and interefting in ftyle, ©
fits a young man reading.

It is evening, though the fun has not yet fet,
but it is evening, and the young man is fitting at
a {mall oak table in a recefs in one of the ancient
windows, and before him lies open a book, and on
the book, which he touches not with his hands,
but on which his eyes, blinded by tears, are fixed,
there lies a faded primrofe.