47. Eternal God
Eternal God
BRAHMAN’S TESTIMONY.—A converted Brahman, who once visited America, said that the study of the wonderful announcement made in the first words of the Bible of one personal Creator of the universe existing from all Eternity, was one of the chief means of turning him from idolatry.
AUGUSTINE AND BUSHNELL.—When one asked Augustine where God was before Heaven was created, he replied: “He was in Himself.” Bushnell woke up one night and said: “Oh, God is a wonderful Being.” When his daughter asked, “Is He with you?” the old man replied, “Yes, in a sense He is with me; and I have no doubt He is with me in a sense I do not imagine.”
GOD BOTH GREAT AND SMALL.—Collins once met a plain man going to a meeting, and asked, “Where are you going?” When informed by the countryman that he was going to meeting, Collins asked. “What to do there?” “To worship God,” said the man. “Is your God a great or a little God?” asked Collins. “He is both,” was the reply. “How can He be both?” continued Collins. “He is so great,” answered the man, “that the Heaven of Heavens can’t contain Him, and so little that He can dwell in my heart.” WHO MADE ALL THAT.—While on the deck of a vessel one evening, at sea, some French infidel officers were denying the existence of God. At length they proposed to get the opinion of Napoleon, who was standing alone wrapt in silent thought. On hearing the question, “Is there a God?” he raised his hand and, pointing to the starry firmament, asked: “Gentlemen, who made all that?”
GOD’S WORK SUPERIOR TO MAN’S.— An aged colored man was once asked his reasons for believing in God. “Sir,” said he, “I have been here going on fifty years. Every day since I have been in this world I see the sun rise in the east and set in the west. The North Star stands where it did the first time I saw it; the Seven Stars and Job’s Coffin keep on the same path in the sky and never turn out. It is not so with man’s work. He makes clocks and watches; they may run well for a while, but they get out of order and stand still. But the sun and moon and stars keep on the same way all the while.” THE REPORTER.—A young man started for a ball saying, “We shall have a reporter there.” Did he think that God would have His reporter there also; that His report would• embrace something more than the dresses of the ladies or the particulars of the feast and cup. However the sinner may fancy himself concealed by the shades of solitude or the curtains of midnight, God is present and sees, hears and takes account of all his thoughts, words and actions.
GOD’S BOUNTY.—Every part of God’s creation seems to cater to man’s needs in the great variety of its products. So many beasts, birds, fishes, trees, fruits and flowers; so many minerals, metals and fossils—there is nothing wanting for the use of man or the animals under him. God has provided bountifully.
GOD’S WATCHFULNESS.—As there is no babe cradled and rocked that has not its mother to bend over it by day and by night, to kiss it as it sleeps, and to cover it with smiles and caresses when it wakes, so every creature that is born into life has a God whose ever-watchful eye, tenderly watches over it by day and by night.