“But are you not aware, my young friend,” said the minister, “that only those who love Christ, and are trying to serve him, have any right to come to that holy ordinance?”

“I know it, sir,” said the young man, “and I am thankful to feel that I am among that number.”

“But,” asked the astonished pastor, “are you not known in this village as the ringleader in all evil doings?”

“Alas! it is too true that it has been so,” he replied, “but thank God all is changed now.”

“I am happy indeed to hear it; but pray tell me what led to this great change.”

“I was in your church, sir,” said he, “some weeks ago, when that English minister preached from the words, ’Who loved me and gave himself for me,’ That was the first time I ever understood about the love of Christ.  It led to my repentance and conversion; and now I wish to show my love to Jesus by trying to serve and please him.”

Here we see how the love of Christ makes us good.

But it makes us happy, as well as good.  Here is a little story that illustrates this point very well.  We may call it: 

“Maggie’s Secret.”  “Maggie Blake, how can you study so hard, and be so provokingly good?” This question was asked by Jennie Lee, who was one of the largest and wildest girls in the school.  Maggie hesitated a moment, whether to tell her secret or not.  But, presently she lifted up her eyes, looked her companion bravely in the face, and said—­“It’s for Jesus’ sake, Jennie.”

“But do you think he cares?” asked Jennie in a soft, subdued voice,—­“do you think he cares how we act?”

“I know he does,” said Maggie.  “And it makes it so pleasant you see, even to study and get hard lessons, when I know he is looking at me, and is pleased to have me working my best for him.  He always helps me to get my lessons; and then helps me to say them right.  You know I used to be so frightened I could not say them, even when I had learned them well.”

“Yes,” said Jennie, remembering very well how Maggie had changed in that respect.

“That was before I thought of learning them for Jesus.  After that he helped me all along.  It makes me like school; and even disagreeable things are pleasant when I think of doing them for him.”

Jennie had often watched Maggie, and wondered what made her have such a bright, cheerful, happy look.  Now she knew the secret of it.  It was doing everything “for Jesus’ sake.”

She felt she would gladly give everything she had to be as happy as Maggie.  She asked Maggie to pray for her, and she began to pray for herself.  Then Jesus helped her, and she soon had Maggie’s secret for her own.  The girls in school wondered at the change which had come over Jennie.  But when they heard that she had been confirmed, and had joined the church, they understood it all.  They knew she “had been with Jesus;” and that it was learning to know and feel his wonderful love which had made Jennie so good, and so happy.