HIDE AND SEEK.

Hoa Maori, Issue 22, 1 October 1891, Page 6

HIDE AND SEEK.

(to the chileken.)

CgpHERE are few boys and girls who do _ji not know the pleasant game of "liide and seek." Most children, at any rate, have enjoyed the simple pastime. . I am not very old, and when children are at play, I almost forget that I am one of the grown-up folk, and frequently find myself mingling with the merry troop. Need I say that I have often played "hide and seek;" in woods, on heath, in gardens, farm-yards, houses, inland, and on the seashore; whereever there were young folks to be amused, and hiding places to be found, there sides were soon picked, and the sport speedily commenced Can you think of any "hide and seek " spoken of in the Bible ? Not a game though itwas a reality. . You will not have to turn over many leaves of the book of Genesis to discover an answer. In the third chapter we may find mention of hiding and seeking; Hiding from God, and seeking ly God. Sinners were hiding, and a Saviour-God was seeking.

Adam and Eve had sinned —sinned agains their Maker- He had provided everything for man that was good and pleasant, but had reserved one tree, forbidding Adam to eat of it. Of this one tree Eve had taken and eaten, and then given to her husband, and he had eaten too. Thus they both had sinned; and when they heard the voice of the Lord God they fled, and kid themselves among the trees of the garden. j Have you ever sought to hide from God? Have you ever gone into a dark cellar, or cupboard, and thought. God cannot see me here ? Perhaps you have crept beneath the clothes upon your bed, and imagined that no eye could behold you there. Why was it you did these things ? I think I know. It I was because you too had sinned, and thus you, like Adam and Eve, sought to escape from the sight of the One who made you. Is it not sad that any of God’s creatures should wish to be beyond His view ? Of course, no one can get out of His gaze, for He knows our downsitting and uprising, and is acquainted with all our paths. Darkness and light are both alike to Him. God did not allow Adam and Eve to remain hidden. He sought them, and called them out into His presence; and though they were driven from Paradise for their sin, yet He Himself provided coats of skin, and clothed them, and spoke at the same time of a Deliverer. God was the seeker then,- and He found the trembling sinners, and covered them. The coats of skins were a little picture of the righteousness of God, which now covers every believer on the Lord Jesus. He it is who delivers all who trust Him “from the wrath to come.” Have you ever noticed what a secure kiding place David found? See Psa xxxii 7. Satan and his sins might seek to find him, but they never would be able to. Of all hiding-places this is the best. Have you ever hidden there ? It is suck a blessed moment when a poor guilty sinner comes to the Saviour-God, cons fessing his sins, and believing on the Lord l Jesus; for just as the prodigal of Luke xv. l I found a welcome awaiting him, so every re--1 pentant soul finds God ready to pardon, and

righteous to forgive. 11 When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck' and kissed him.” Come to Him now. Jesus is the Way. ■ '