Father to us in fact and in feeling. He owns us and owns His
responsibility for us. He cares for us and overrules all things for our
good. He is worthy of our love and confidence. Since we are His
children, God desires us to be such in very deed--in fellowship and
character, and is satisfied with us only as we are giving ourselves to
the filial life. This relationship which we bear to God cannot be fully
explained. There is a mystery in it beyond the understanding of finite
minds; but of this we are sure that the God of Creation has brought us
all forth into being, and He will take care of us if we will let Him. We
cannot reasonably and reverently think otherwise of Him.

"Is it not a comfort to think that we cannot get away from the
ever-present watchfulness of God? As the Psalmist puts it: 'Whither
shall I go from thy spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell,
behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in
the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and
thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover
me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not
from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light
are both alike to thee.' Yes, yes, my friends, 'God is our refuge and
strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear--'"

Somehow, what the minister said after that came very indistinctly to
Chester Lawrence. He heard the words, but was aware only of a peculiar
feeling, a dim perception of where he was and what he was hearing. There
seemed to him to be a genuine feeling in the voice that uttered those
beautiful words of scripture. They clung to his heart, and the minister
himself became transfigured for an instant into some other being,--stern
of countenance, yet loveliness in the depths of his soul, spiritually