third chapter of Genesis, at the very
commencement of the Bible, you will find that at the same time that Adam
receives his punishment, a promise is made by the Lord, that the head of
the serpent shall hereafter be bruised. The whole of the Bible, from
the very commencement, is an announcement of the coming of Christ; so
that as soon as the fault had been committed, the Almighty, in His
mercy, had provided a remedy. Nothing is unknown or unforeseen by God.

"Recollect, Frank, that the Bible contains the history of God's doings,
but it does not often tell is why such things were done. It must be
sufficient for us to know that such was the will of God; when He thinks
proper, He allows us to understand His ways; but to our limited
capacities, most of His doings are inscrutable. But are we to suppose
that, because we, in our foolishness, cannot comprehend His reasons,
that therefore they must be cavilled at? Do you understand me, Frank?"

"Yes," replied I; "I do pretty well."

"As I pointed out to you the other day, you see the blade of grass grow,
and you see it flower, but how it does so you know not. If then you are
surrounded all your life with innumerable things which you see but
cannot comprehend--when all nature is a mystery to you--even yourself--
how can you expect to understand the dealings of God in other things?
When, therefore, you read the Bible, you must read it with faith."

"What is faith? I don't quite understand, mother."

"Frank, I have often told you of many things that are in England, where
you one day hope to go. Now, if, when you arrive in England, you find
that everything that I have told you is quite true, you will be
satisfied that I am worthy of belief."

"Yes."

"Well, suppose some one were to tell you something relative to any other
country, which you could not understand, and you came to me and asked me
if such were the case, would you, having found that I told you truth
with regard to England, believe that what you had been told of this
other country was true, if I positively asserted that it was so?"

"Of course I should, mother."

"Well, then, Frank, that would be faith; a belief in things not only not
seen, but which you cannot understand. But, to go on, I mention this
because some people are so presumptuous as to ask the why and the
wherefore of God's doings, and attempt to argue upon their justice,
forgetting that the little reason they have is the gift of God, and tha