“I THINK Bella loves Jesus now," said little Annie to a lady who was formerly Bella's teacher, “for she is quite different from what she used to be. She has a class of little children in our Sunday school, and she speaks so kindly, and has such patience with them.”
“I am very glad to hear such good news, “said the lady;" I hope soon to see Bella, and then I will ask her about this great change in her conduct.”
Bella was a girl who had given her teacher a great deal of trouble, by ridiculing the Bible, showing much opposition to any who sought to speak to her of its solemn truths; so the news that she had become a Sunday school teacher greatly surprised her friend, who longed to speak with her and be assured as to the reality of the cause of the alteration in her.
An opportunity soon offered, and Bella was invited to meet a company of her old classmates.
The meeting was a very happy one, and among the bright faces of those dear young people not one face was brighter than Bella's. Her former teacher wondered at her all through their cheerful tea-time, but did not hear the good news of God's grace to her until, as they rose from the table, Bella drew her aside and said—
“I want to tell you something about myself that will make you very glad. I am quite a different girl from what I used to be. I am saved from hell, and on the road to heaven. The Lord Jesus is now my friend. I can truly say I am on the Lord's side.”
“Dear Bella," replied her friend, "do tell me about your conversion. I have heard of your teaching in a Sunday school, and I feared lest you were making efforts with a view to your acceptance with God.”
“No, indeed," said the young girl, earnestly, "The Lord's own precious blood has cleansed me from all sin, and I love to do something for Him who has done so much for me. But I do not wonder at your being surprised at the change in me, for I was a very troublesome girl when with you. I often think of the patience you had with me, and how the Lord has heard your prayers on my behalf, and it encourages me to go on patiently with my restless little ones. Ever since I trusted my soul to the Saviour's keeping," she continued, “I have longed to tell you the news, and have been asking the Lord to make the way plain for me to see you and I am sure He has answered me to-day. “You will remember that text over the
mantel-piece. Ah, there it is," said Bella, as her eye fell upon it, and she read— “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:33The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)).
"When I was very naughty, you would often point to that text and say, Bella, you forget, the eyes of the Lord are upon you.' I used to feel angry, and wish the text wasn't there, and yet I couldn't keep from looking at it. At last the words followed me wherever I went. I began to feel very wretched. Do what I would, I could not get away from the eyes of the Lord. My heart said, Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence ? ‘The more I thought of God's omniscience, the more miserable I became. I tried to become good, but my sins stared me in the face. Unfit for His presence, my fitness for hell presented itself. What could I do, or where go to find relief? One night, when almost beside myself with despair, I shut myself up in my room, and there by my bedside I told Jesus everything. I told Him I could not get away from His eyes, that I felt they were searching me through and through, and nothing but badness did they see. Was He able to deliver me from the terror of His presence? Would He save me? He heard me, and answered me, and gave me such sweet peace, such assurance of His love toward me, as I cannot express. He told me that He died for me, that His blood was sufficient to cleanse my guilty soul, making it meet for His eyes. I believed His words, and became truly happy. I do not dread His eyes now a bit; I know they are gazing upon me with infinite love. Only one thing I dread, lest I should grieve Him by naughty ways. But He has hitherto helped me, and I trust myself to His good keeping.
“Now I have told you," said Bella, “all I can think of about my conversion; and very glad I am to tell you what the Lord has done for my soul."
Bella is still working for the Lord, and it is her old friend's earnest prayer that she may be kept pleasing Him until He calls her away to the home that awaits her. E. E. S.