beginning made heaven and earth. An utterly good God. A God whose
mercy is over all his creatures. A God who desires the good of his
creatures; who willeth not that one little one should perish; who
will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the
truth; who wages everlasting war against sin and folly, and wrong and
misery, and all the ills to which men are heirs; who not only made
the world, but loves the world, and who proved that--what a proof!--
by not sparing his only-begotten Son, but freely giving him for us.

Therefore we can say, not merely,--I know that a God made the world,
but I know what that God is like. I know that he is not merely a
great God, a wise God, but a good God; that goodness is his very
essence. I know that he is gracious and merciful, long suffering,
and of great kindness. I know that he is loving to every man, and
that his mercy is over all his works. I know that he upholds those
who fall, and lifts up those who are down; I know that he careth for
the fatherless and widow, and executes judgment and justice for all
those who are oppressed with wrong. I know that he will fulfil the
desire of those who call upon him; and will also hear their cry and
will help them. I know, in short, that he is a living God, and a
loving God; a God in whom men may trust, to whom they may open their
hearts, as children to their father: and I am sure that those who
come to him he will in no wise cast out; for he himself has said,
with human voice upon this earth of ours,--'Come unto me all ye that
labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.'

In him all can trust. The sick man on his bed can trust in him and
say--In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth; and he is
full of grace and truth. This sickness of mine comes by the laws of
heaven and earth; and those laws are God's laws. Then even this