II. That devotion, by whomsoever condemned, will be found conformable to that standard —
[The hosannahs of the children were most probably re- garded as the effusions of weak and uninformed minds. And this is the construction which is still put on the conduct of those who endeavour to exalt the Saviour, and who are, on this account, derided as enthusiasts. But look into the Scrip- ture, and see the state of David's mind. Can any one read the Psalms, and not wish to be in the same frame of mind with him, when he said, " Bless the Lord, O my soul : and all that is within me bless his holy name ? " In the New Testament it is written, " Rejoice in the Lord always ; and again I say, Rejoice." In fact, there should not be an hour in the day, in which our souls should not be tuned for praise. And though we are not called to express our admiration and love in the same public manner as the children in the temple were, there should be in us the same disposition ; yes, and in our secret chamber, too, the same exercise of it as we have seen in them. Nor, if a public testimony of our love to the Saviour be called for, should we be either ashamed or afraid to give it. It is by praise that God is glorified *^. In heaven, the saints and angels have no other employment: and it is our privilege, and duty too, to begin our heaven upon earth.]
For yom* comfort, also, will you find,
III. That the weaker the instruments by whom his glory is advanced, the more is God glorified —
[We should have been ready to think that the praises of the Chief Priests would have been more to the honour of our blessed Lord: and at this time we are apt to imagine that the services of the rich and learned more exalt God than those of the poor and ignorant. But the very reverse of this is more consistent with truth. For, if the wise and noble were most forward to honour the Saviour, we should impute their conduct to natural principles : we should conclude that reason and education were the chief means of their conversion. But, when we see babes and sucklings well instructed in the things that are hid from the wise and prudent, we are constrained to ascribe the effect to grace alone ^. Let none, therefore, think that they are incapable of glorifying God ; or that " God will despise the day of small things :" for the prayer of the Publican and the mite of the widow were more acceptable to God than many longer prayers and richer offerings: and if only we " serve God with what we have, it shall be accepted of him'^." Four times does God tell his poorer worshippers to serve him
f Ps. 1. 23. s Matt. xi. 25, 26. •> 2 Cor. vui. 12.
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with " such as they ca?i get^." In truth, " the weaker we are in ourselves, the more is his strength perfected in our weakness^."]
Application —
1. Let parents labour to bring their children to Christ—
[Parents are apt to neglect their children, under an idea that their minds are not sufficiently expanded to receive divine knowledge. But we read of many who were sanctified from their earliest infancy^: and the instance before us is sufficient
to encourage our most laborious exertions™ Happy the
parents of such children as those ! and happy the children whose earliest years are thus devoted to the Lord ! Let reli- gious parents, in particular, look to it, that they spare no pains in instructing their children, and praying both with them and for them: for so has God commanded": and they have his promise, that in due season he will prosper their efforts".]
2. Let us, who are instructed in the Gospel, abound in praises to our blessed Lord —