  When did God begin to live in heaven? God always lived in heaven. Once there was no such little child as you, but there always was God. Once there was no sun, but there always was God. Once there were no angels, but there always was God. No one made God; God was the first of all things, and God made everything. A very long while ago God made the angels. How many angels did he make? No one could tell how many. There were more than could be counted. They were all good and happy. But some of the angels grew bad. They left off loving God, and grew proud, and disobedient. Would God let them stay in heaven after they were bad? No; he cast them out, and put them in chains and darkness. One of these bad angels was called Satan. He is the chief, or prince of the bad angels. He is called the devil. The devil is very wicked, and hates God. He can never go back to heaven again, but he comes here where we live, and he brings the other devils with him. We cannot see Satan, because he is a spirit, but he is always walking about, and trying to make people naughty. Satan loves mischief; he does not wish to be good. It pleases Satan to see people in pain and in tears; but it pleases him best to see them naughty, because then he thinks that they will come and live with him in his dark place. He wishes that there should be a great many people in hell, so he tries I cannot tell you how very bad Satan is. He is very cruel, for he likes to give pain. He is a liar and teaches people to tell lies. He is proud, and wishes people to mind him more than God. He is envious, and cannot bear to see people happy. The devil hopes very much that you will come and live with him when you die. He knows that if you are bad like him, you will live with him. So he tries to make you like himself. When you are in a passion, you are like the devil. When you say, “I don’t care,” you are like the devil. When you think yourself good, you are proud like the devil. Can God keep you from minding the devil? Yes; he can: for God is a great deal stronger than Satan. Besides this, God is always near you, for God is everywhere. Now Satan cannot be everywhere at the same time. It is true that Satan has a great many angels who go where he tells them; and that Satan and his angels come near you very often. But God is always with you; he is before you and behind you, and on every side of you; he is about your bed when you sleep, and about your path when you walk. Therefore you need not be afraid of Satan; only ask God to help you, and he will do so. Satan is much stronger than you are; but God is stronger than all. If anybody were to come to hurt you when you were alone, you would be frightened; but if you saw your father coming you would run to him, and you would not be frightened any more. Now God is our father; he can keep Satan from hurting you. Pray to him, and say, “O dear father, keep me from being wicked like the devil, and from going to hell.” Satan was once an angel bright And worship’d God on high; But now he dwells in darkest night And endless misery. Daring his God to disobey, He lost his happy state: Sinners above could never stay Around God’s throne to wait. Thousands of angels with him fell, Who own him as their king; Hoping with us to share their hell, They tempt our souls to sin. CHILD. God, unto thee I’ll lift my pray’r, (He’ll hear an infant cry,) “Save me, O Lord, lest I should share In Satan’s misery.” On the subjects of the preceding Lessons. God lives on high—beyond the sky, And angels bright—all clothed in white, The praises sing—of heaven’s king. This God can see—both you and me; Can see at night—as in the light; And all we do—remembers too. ’Tis he bestows—my food and clothes, And my soft bed—to rest my head, And cottage neat and mother sweet. And should not I—forever try To do what He—has ordered me, And dearly love—this Friend above? I always should—be very good: At home should mind—my parents kind; At school obey—what teachers say. Now if I fight—and scratch, and bite, In passions fall—and bad names call, Full well I know—where I shall go. Satan is glad—when I am bad, And hopes that I—with him shall lie In fire and chains—and dreadful pains. And liars dwell—with him in hell, And many more—who cursed and swore, And all who did—what God forbid. And I have not—done what I ought; I am not fit—with God to sit. I will confess—my naughtiness, And will entreat—for mercy sweet O Lord! forgive—and let me live. My body must—be turned to dust. Then let me fly—beyond the sky, And see thy face—in that sweet place. |
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