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A simple, unlettered  colored  man  was  under  instruction for  Baptism. After a long  course  of  training, the  priest  ventured  a few  questions  as  a test  of progress. “ Now, my  friend,”  said  he,  “ who  made you? ” “ God made  me,”  was  the  prompt  answer.

“And,” continued  the  priest,  “who  made  God?” A look of  doubt  and  dismay  passed  over  the  man’s countenance, but  with  native  readiness  he  presently leaned forward  and  whispered  confidentially,  “Father, that question  has  puzzled  me  all  my  life.”  With  a laugh  at  his  naive  simplicity,  the  priest  proceeded to enlighten  him  thus: “ God  is  eternal. Two men died. Dives and  Lazarus,  and  Lazarus  was  taken  up to  Abraham’s  bosom,  and  Dives  was  buried  in  hell. And Dives  begged  God  to  allow  Lazarus  to  give  him one drop  of  water. Now, suppose  God  had  done  so, and Lazarus  were  permitted  to  place  one  drop  on Dives’  tongue  every  million  years,  until  all  the water on  the  earth  had  been  used  up,  would  that time equal  eternity? No, eternity  would  have scarcely begun. And suppose  Dives  were  then every million  years  to  shed  one  tear  over  his  sad  fate until all  the  lakes,  seas,  and  oceans  of  the  earth  were restored, would  that  time  joined  to  the  former  equal eternity? No. If  Lazarus’  mercy  and  Dives’  grief were repeated over  a million  times,  eternity  would still be  in  its  infancy. Now, my  friend,  what  is  the measure of  God’s  existence? ” The man  answered:

“ Father, I reckon  God  is  eternal; that  He  always