How children were taught to love God in 1855

Part 9 in an exclusive 12-part Herald-Guide series

CHAPTER IX. ABOUT SALVATION.
MY DEAR CHILD – Have you thought about the sad truths of which I told you in the last chapters? You have read how God made Adam good and holy and happy, and how the law of God, which could not be set aside, required that if Adam disobeyed him, he should die, and his soul be shut up for ever in a place of misery and woe.

And that God had said that every one of Adam’s children, and his children’s children, and so every one who should ever be born in the world, should, if they sinned, be sent to that dreadful place.

And you have read how Adam did sin against God, although he knew these terrible things. And you have also read in a former chapter, that Adam’s children, and all the people in the world had wicked hearts, and that they too have all sinned against God and deserve the same punishment.

And more than this, my dear child, you and I are sinners, and deserve the same punishment.

O, who can save us from this dreadful doom? How can God take us to heaven when his law demands that all sinners should be sent far away from heaven and never come into it? Is there any way that God can save us, and yet not break his word?

Yes, my dear child, God has found out a way. O is not this good news? No man, however wise, could ever have found out a way; but God could, and he did, because he loves us, and does not wish us to be sent away from him for ever.

Yes, he found out a way, and he told this way to Adam and Eve after they had been so wicked as to sin against him. O is not God good, very good, to be so willing to forgive sinners?

He told them that he would send his Son down from heaven into this world to die for them, and to bear the punishment of their sins for them; and that if they would believe in his promise, and love and obey his Son, they should be forgiven for his Son’s sake, who would die instead of them. Was not this wonderful love, and a glorious plan to save sinners, who deserved to be punished for ever?

And must not Adam and Eve have loved God, and his dear Son who was going to die to save them, so that they might be forgiven and go to heaven? And shall not you and I love this dear Saviour too?

He is called the Saviour, because he saves all who believe and trust him. O, let us trust and love him, and give ourselves to him to be his for ever, because he is so good, and has loved us so much as to die for us.