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'No; of course not, Nancy But what did Mr Weston say then?'
'He said nought; but he listened to me as steady an' patient as could be, an' never a bit o' scorn about him; so I went on, an' telled him all, just as I've telled you--an' ht in telling you to persevere in doing your duty; but in advising you to go to church and attend to the service, and so on, he didn't ht you ht there learn what ht in those exercises, instead of finding them a task and a burden And if you had asked him to explain those words that trouble you so much, I think he would have told you, that if ate and shall not be able, it is their own sins that hinder theht wish to pass through a narrow doorway, and find it impossible to do so unless he would leave his sack behind him But you, Nancy, I dare say, have no sins that you would not gladly throw aside, if you kne?"
'"Indeed, sir, you speak truth," said I
'"Well," says he, "you know the first and great commandment--and the second, which is like unto it--on which two co all the law and the prophets? You say you cannot love God; but it strikes htly consider who and what He is, you cannot help it He is your father, your best friend: every blessing, everything good, pleasant, or useful, co you have reason to hate, to shun, or to fear, comes from Satan--HIS enemy as well as ours And for THIS cause was God ht destroy the works of the Devil: in one word, God is LOVE; and the more of love we have within us, the nearer we are to Him and the more of His spirit we possess"
'"Well, sir," I said, "if I can always think on these things, I think I hbours, when they vex me, and be so contrary and sinful as some on 'em is?"
'"It hbours, who have so much of what is evil about theers within ourselves; but remember that HE made theat, loveth hiave His only begotten Son to die for us, we ought also to love one another But if you cannot feel positive affection for those who do not care for you, you can at least try to do to them as you would they should do unto you: you can endeavour to pity their failings and excuse their offences, and to do all the good you can to those about you And if you accustom yourself to this, Nancy, the very effort itself will oodwill your kindness would beget in theood about them If we love God and wish to serve Him, let us try to be like Hiood of dom, which is the peace and happiness of all the world: however powerless we h life, the humblest of us may do much towards it: and let us dwell in love, that He may dwell in us and we in Him The more happiness we bestow, the reater will be our reward in heaven e rest from our labours" I believe, Miss, theht 'em ower many a time An' then he took that Bible, an' read bits here and there, an' explained 'eht broke in on low about my heart, an' only wished poor Bill an' all the world could ha' been there, an' heard it all, and rejoiced wi' me