There are three things in the text — I. An Encouragement — " Suffer the little children to come
unto me." II. A Reproof — " Forbid them not." III. A Eevelation — " Of such is the kingdom of God."
' Samxiel Cox.
2-,2 THE GREAT TEXTS OF THE BIBLE
An Encouragement.
The encouragement was to the mothers of the children, and 80 to the children themselves, though it was spoken to the disciples — " Sufifer the little children to come unto me."
i. Jesus as the Friend of Little Children.
1. Children in the Bible. — The child element in it gives the Bible its claim upon the heart of the world. Who can measure the influence of that Bible story of the little babe born in the hut of a Hebrew slave in Egypt ? We see the mother looking upon her child " exceeding beautiful," whilst her great grief chokes her, and she presses it to her heart — for the law is gone forth that the sons of the Hebrews be flung into the river. Then come the stealthy visits to the Nile by night. They fetch home the rushes and weave the ark for the child, and then creep forth to lay the little one upon the bank. Then comes the dawning of that happy day, and the princess and her maidens gather about the child, and it is rescued and adopted as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Such a story as that hangs imperishably in the chambers of imagery, and brings into the midst of us a new tenderness and a new love.
^ It has been said by some that the subliraest sentence ever penned is that in the story of the Creation, "And God said, Let there be light : and there was light." But I think most of us feel that we come unutterably nearer to God, and know very much more of our Father, in reading the wonderful words, " God heard the voice of the lad." ^
Think again how large a space the childhood of Jesus fills in the Bible. For thirty years there is but a single break in the silence concerning Him, but about the Holy Child what scenes of exquisite beauty cluster. We see the simple shepherds under that frosty night ; we hear the music of the angels' song ; we gather with the shepherds as they come in haste ; we stand with them adoring the little Child wrapped in the swaddling clothes and laid in the manger. We love to linger at the
' M. G. Pears*
ST. MARK i33
Temple steps as old Simeon takes from the wondering Mother the blessed Babe and sings his song of Israel's redemption. And we come again to Bethlehem led by the star, and with the wise men we kneel, and fain would lay at His feet the gifts of gold and myrrh and frankincense. And yet again we follow them along their way on that dread night when Joseph and Mary take the young Child and flee from Herod's soldiers. Of all the pictures that have become graven upon the heart of the world there is none so sacredly treasured as that of the Holy Child Jesus. Who can say how much it has enriched men through all the ages with gentleness and love ? Who can say how it has guarded and ennobled childhood ?
Again, in the ministry of the Lord, what a place He gave to the children ! How much He finds in them to light up the love of God, and to reprove our pride and care ! He sits on the Mount and preaches the great Sermon about the heavenly Father. He picks a flower from the field and holds it up. " Look at it. If God so clothe the grass of the field, shall he not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith ? " He bids them listen to the birds, the chirping sparrow and croaking raven. " Think of them," saith He ; " your heavenly Father feedeth them ; are ye not much better than they ? " Then comes the third illustration, and that applies the lesson. The break of the chapter shuts off the third part cruelly. Look at the Lord Jesus amidst the crowd. He has told of the flowers and the birds, and now, He to whom the children ever went at once, stretches out His hand and draws to Himself a little wondering lad, and He applies the lesson. " What man of you, if his little son ask bread, will he give him a stone, or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent, if he ask an egg will he give him a scorpion ? Therefore, if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ? " ^
^ A young father was wakened early one morning, while it was still dark, by his young son in the cradle at his side, asking for a drink. When his thirst was satisfied, and the father had lain down again, the little fellow asked if he might sing. But his singing became so lusty that an embargo had to be put upon