“God teaches his people to hate sin and try bard—­asking help of him—­to forsake it and be always good, doing just what is right; doesn’t he, papa?  That’s what grandma says.”

“Yes, dear child, it is what God teaches us in his Word—­the Holy Bible.”

“And he will send his Holy Spirit to help us—­if we ask him to?”

“Yes.”

“But how can we know it, papa? we can’t see him.”

“No, daughter, but we may know it by the help he gives us, and others will recognize the fact by the fruit of the Spirit seen in our lives.  Lucilla, can you tell me what is the fruit of the Spirit?”

“Yes, sir; the Bible says ’the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.”

“Yes; and ‘against such there is no law.’  Jesus has kept the law perfectly in their stead, and his righteousness being imputed to them, they are treated as if they had never broken the law—­never sinned—­but had been always holy and obedient to all the commands of God, as he was.”

Elsie was looking very thoughtful.  “I think I understand it now, papa,” she said.  “Jesus has kept God’s law in our stead, and borne the punishment for our breaking it, and gives his goodness to us, so that we are treated just as if we had been really good when we haven’t at all, and that is what it means where it says, ‘by whose stripes ye were healed.’”

“Yes, dear child, that is just it; and oh, how can we help loving him, who died and suffered so much for us!  Oh, how we ought to love him!”

“I do love him, papa.  I ask him every day to help me to love him more and serve him better.  I ask earnestly for a new heart; for he is the hearer and answerer of prayer.  The Bible tells us so.”

“And it is so sweet to know it,” said Grace, speaking low and softly, “for he is always near and able to help us, no matter what our trouble may be.”

“Yes,” said her father. “’Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify me.’  ’Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.’  God looks at the heart, my children, and will not hear and answer us if we approach him with lip service only, not really wanting what we are asking for.”

“Yes, papa,” said Elsie; “but I do really want the new heart I ask him for.  So he will give it to me; won’t he?”

“Yes, daughter, for he has said so, and his promises never fail.”

“I want to go to mamma now,” said Neddie, getting down from his father’s knee.

“Yes, run along,” said the captain.  “Our lesson has been long enough for to-day, I think, daughters, and you are all at liberty to go.  You, Grace, are looking weary, and it would be well for both you and Elsie to take a nap:  Lucilla also, if she wishes,” he added, with a kindly glance at her.