knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes,
shall be beaten with few stripes.'"

"Yes; and you think I'm one of the first class, I suppose?"

"I do, my boy; for you have been well instructed, both in the church and
in the family; also you have a Bible, and may study it for yourself as
often and carefully as you will."

"But I really have never done anything very bad, uncle."

"How can you say that, Robert, when you know that you have lived all
your life in utter neglect of God's appointed way of salvation? hearing
the gracious invitation of Him who died that you might live, 'Come unto
me,' and refusing to accept it?

"'God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life,' and having for years refused to believe, how can you assert that
you have done nothing very bad? 'How shall we escape, if we neglect so
great salvation?'"

Bob made no reply, but looked thoughtful, and his uncle went quietly
from the room, thinking it well to leave the lad to his own reflections.

Passing the door of the room where Harold lay, he was about to enter,
but perceiving that the boy and his mother were in earnest conversation,
he moved on, leaving them undisturbed.

"Mamma," Harold was saying, "I have been thinking much of sudden death
since my very narrow escape from it. You know, mamma, it comes sometimes
without a moment's warning; and as we all sin continually in thought and
feeling, if not in word and deed, as our very best deeds and services
are so stained with sin that they need to be repented of and forgiven,
how is it that even a true Christian can get to heaven if called away so
suddenly?"

"Because when one comes to Jesus Christ and accepts His offered
salvation, _all_ his sins, future as well as past and present, are
forgiven. 'The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all
sin.'

"Jesus said, 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.' 'I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand.'"

"But oh, mamma, I find myself so weak and sinful, so ready to yield to
temptation, that I sometimes fear I shall never be able to hold out to
the end!"

"My dear boy, let that fear lead you to cling all the closer to the
Master, who is able to save unto the uttermost. If our holding out
depended upon ourselves, our own weak wills, we might well be in
despair; b