The Runaway Part 7

His spirit was very calm, but O, how happy! He had solemnly given himself to G.o.d, pleading the merits of Jesus as the reason for his acceptance, and he believed that G.o.d had received him, pardoned his transgressions, and accepted him as one of his own children. Again and again did he throw himself on the greensward, and pour out his soul in grat.i.tude and in prayer. It was the happiest day his life had ever known.

The whole aspect of nature seemed changed in his eyes. The gloomy shroud, that seemed to envelop it in the morning, had pa.s.sed away. The smile of G.o.d seemed reflected from every sunbeam that played upon the green leaves and danced over the distant waving meadow. There was sweet melody now in the songs of the birds, in the rippling of the brook, in the hum of the bees, and in the sighing of the soft breeze. All seemed to sing of the goodness and grace of the adorable Creator. "_Old_ things had pa.s.sed away, behold all things had become _new_."

That lad was the RODNEY ROVERTON of this little volume. That change was wrought by the regenerating grace of G.o.d. It was the "peace of G.o.d, that pa.s.seth all understanding," diffused through all his soul. Where "sin had abounded, grace did much more abound."

Rodney Roverton yet lives. He has been, for many years, a professed disciple of Jesus Christ, and an honored and successful minister of the Gospel.