1364 The. Love of God.

“© No, no,” exclaimed Theodore eagerly, ‘ it is
not! I do not doubt His goodnefs—His compaf-
fion even for the wretched creatures whom He
formed out of duft. But I—thoughtlefs in my
youth; felf-confident in profperity ; ungrateful and
rebellious under affliction ; how can fuch a wretch
as I have been, believe in the Jove of God to me!
God is good and juft, but do not talk to me of His
Love to man, as if it were poffible He could feel
for them the tendernefs of kind affection! Who
are you?”

Without noticing this queftion, the Spirit re-
peated, in emphatic tones, ‘¢ To difbelieve the
Love of God is to doubt His goodnefs, and deny
the perfection of His nature !”

“ T tell you, No!” fhouted Theodore, wildly :
“¢ Tt is becaufe of His goodnefs and becaufe of the
perfection of His nature, that I difbelieve the
poffibility of His Love to the wretched race of
man !”

“¢ Judge by your own heart!” exclaimed the
Spirit who had not yet fpoken.

But when Theodore raifed his eyes to look
upon her, both had difappeared. He felt grieved,
he knew not why. ‘ Ady own heart!” he mur-
mured ; ‘* ah! my own heart has been the wit-
nefs againft me. It has taught me the dreadful
truth.”

“ Truth never yet was found of him who leads
a life of felfifh mifery,” whifpered a foft voice re-