198 *% ¢ OBEDIENCE.

and obey him. He was given a new name, too, for he
was called Paul after this. .

Paul is the great man we learn so much about in the
New Testament. He never wanted his own way after
God gave him a new heart, but always asked God what
he would have him do. If God told him to go away from
home into a strange country, to tell the people about Jesus,
and the way to be saved, he went, even at the risk of his
life. Sometimes he was put into prison; sometimes: he |
was whipped, just as Jesus was, and sometimes his enemies
threatened to kill him; but in it all he was very patient
and willing to suffer for Jesus’ sake.

Whatever God told him to do, he did at once; for he
loved Jesus, his Savior, so, that he delighted to obey him.
There is nothing so pleasing to God, as to have his people
obedient. Little children can please God by obedience, as
well as those who are older. We obey God when we
obey our parents, for this he has commanded. Every
time we are naughty or willful, or disrespectful to our
parents, we displease God. This is not all: we are very
unhappy ourselves, for we know we have done wrong, and
have a guilty conscience. We can only be happy, as we
obey God, our parents, and our own conscience.