Let us learn, for one thing, from this passage, how much attention the souls of children should receive from the Church of Christ. The Great Head of the Church found time to take special notice of children. Al- though His time on earth was precious, and grown-up men and women were perishing on every side for lack of knowledge, He did not think little boys and girls of small importance. He had room in His mighty heart even for them. He declared by His outward gesture and deed, His good will toward them. And not least, He has left on record words concerning them, which His Church should never forget, " Of such is the kingdom of God."
We must never allow ourselves to suppose that little children's souls may be safely let alone. Their charac- ters for life depend exceedingly on what they see and hear daring their first seven years. They are never too young to learn evil and sin. They are never too young to receive religious impressions. They think in their childish way about God, and their souls, and a world to come, far sooner and far more deeply than most people are aware. They are far more ready to respond to appeals to their feeling of right and wrong than many suppose. They have each a conscience. God has mercifully not left Himself without a witness in their hearts, fallen and corrupt as their natures are. They have each a soul which will live for ever in heaven or in hell. We cannot begin too soon to endeavor to bring them to Christ.
These truths ought to be diligently considered by every branch of the Church of Christ. It is the bounden duty
•which we do not quite like. There is a balance of evil in every po- sition in the world. There are imperfections everywhere. The state of perfection is yet to come.
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of every Christian congregation to make provision for the spiritual training of its children. The boys and girls of every family should he taught as soon as they can learn- — should be brought to public worship as soon as they can behave with propriety — should be regarded with affection- ate interest as the future congregation, which will fill out- places when we are dead. We may confidently expect Christ's blessing on all attempts to do good to children. No church can be regarded as being in a healthy state which neglects its younger members, and lazily excuses itself on the plea, that " young people will be young/' and that it is useless to try to do them good. Such a church shows plainly that it has not the mind of Christ. A congregation which consists of none but grown up people, whose children are idling at home or running wild in the streets or fields, is a most deplorable and un- satisfactory sight. The members of such a congregation may pride themselves on their numbers, and on the soundness of their own views. They may content them- selves with loud assertions that they cannot change their children's hearts, and that God will convert them some day if he thinks fit. But they have yet to learn that Christ regards them as neglecting a solemn duty, and that Christians who do not use every means to bring children to Christ are committing a great sin.
Let us learn, for another thing, from this passage, hoiv much encouragement there is to bring young children to be baptized. Of course it is not pretended that there is any mention of baptism, or even any reference to it in the verses before us. All we mean to say is that the ex- pressions and gestures of our Lord in this passage, are a strong indirect argument in favor of infant baptism. It