dren? If ever the Saviour was displeased with his disciples, it was then; nay, then, it seems, he was much displeased; and so far from the parties who brought these little ones being censured, the apostles themselves, under rebuke, must give way, and stand aside, and make room for their approach.

See then the King of kings take up, in succession, these Children in his arms, and lay his hands upon them-the ancient and solemn manner of blessing among the Jews. Surely this was no vain show, nor did the Messiah pour forth his prayer into the air, or pronounce his blessing in vain. And what should he request for them, but that they might be received among the number of the Sons of God? For let us hear it again-What were the precise terms in which he had invited their approach? "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God." Who then would, or who dare shut the gate upon those, or even neglect them, whom the Saviour will not permit to be forbidden? As Parents, oh! what could you desire more than this? Millions of infant souls, it seems, compose the Family above; and assuredly, in point of number, such souls must form no insignificant proportion of the celestial millions. Regret not now, my reader, for one moment, that nothing is here said of the Parents of these Children, either as to their character or motives, or whether those who brought them even sustained this relation; for with regard to Scripture, as Mr Boyle said, its very silences are teaching. It is with the Children, with the species as such, we have here to do; and, blessed be the Saviour! they actually form the foreground of this pic

ture. Though never registered among the denizens of this little world, that is now of small account indeed, "for of such is the kingdom of God." The whole species are safe, and beyond the reach of wo.

But they died, say you, some of them before they knew their right hand from their left; and others, alas! more advanced, and, therefore, more engaging, yet never knew the difference between good and evil. Ah! so much the better for them. That was a knowledge which carried your first Parents out of Paradise, and this ignorance has not prevented your Children from entering into it. Thus, in one moment of time, could the divine Redeemer, by a few magnificent and gracious words, remove from the parental heart a load of anxiety-" for of such is the kingdom of God;" and as for the tender frame so soon consigned to its native element, though “in Adam all die," yet "so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Surely then this must be regarded, as one most solemn and delightful indication, of what was originally intended by the Domestic Constitution as such; while it involves certainly far more than a hint to Parents; as to how they should conduct themselves, with reference to Children who remain and survive. For was it intended by the Saviour to speak consolation only to bereaved Parents? Most certainly then he did this, as they, since that day, have often felt; but this as certainly was not all: he had been curing others, and conferring bodily health on many who were beyond the power or skill of man's device; and the blessing he now pronounced on those who needed nothing of this kind, must have chiefly referred to the great inhabitant within.

Surely then, I scarcely need to remind Christian Parents, that Jesus, though anointed above all with the oil of gladness, though far above all principalities and powers, is" the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.” But, after such a scene as this, permit me seriously to inquire, How you have been acting by your infant Children? Although no mere local approach to the Saviour, in the days of his flesh, constituted, in itself, the acceptance of any one, and though no such approach on your part is possible now, still I hope you know that you labour under no disadvantage, whatever. Is Jesus indeed the same to-day? How then have you been acting towards Him, with regard to your Children? Have you, I do not say, ever, but have you often taken them up in your arms, and carried them to His? Even though some ill-informed disciples should forbid, or frown upon you, has your imploring eye looked still at Him? Then be not dismayed. You are aware, I trust, that the arms to which he looks are the arms of faith? and that the language to which he has never been known to shut his ear, is the prayer of faith? Then be assured— rely upon it-you have only to remember also, that it is good-assuredly good, both for yourself and your offspring, thus to pray habitually-to pray without impatience without undue anxiety-without wrath or doubting; and again I say, rely upon it, your breath will not be spent in vain.

But have you never thought of so doing? Have you done so under some vague or lingering imprèssion, that He cannot now lay his hands upon them? -that He cannot now bless them ?-that He will not now pray for them, if you only ask in faith? How,

then, can it be said that you have fulfilled a Parent's part? Nay, how can you be said to believe that Jesus is the same to-day? Ah! and since his smile and frown, his complacency and displeasure, are governed by the same unchanging principles, what is to become of you, if you so procced? Did he frown? Was he much displeased with his disciples for forbidding these people, and will he smile upon you ? Smile upon you as a Parent, though you seldom or ever tread in the footsteps of those unknown Jews, who were received with a benignity and condescension which will be for ever admired? Certainly not-it cannot be. Go then and approach him, without one faltering step. His words are as true, and they beam with as much benignity and encouragement, at this moment, as they did on the day in which they were uttered. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God."

Far be it, then, from Christian Parents, who read these words, to lay them up in a treacherous memory. Assured that "except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it," what though he should come and take away one-and another-and even another, at the season, too, when they are most engaging!-Still such Parents will continue to regard their Domestic Constitution, but as one unpretending scaffold to an eternal building! And though a scaffold which is to be laid aside when that building is finished, their object now is, that their family entire may form a part of it. In such a Family, therefore, it is not the statutes of the Lord only, properly so called, which are converted into "thanksgiving and the voice of melody"-the voices of such Parents are, not unfre

quently heard in union, actually responding to these affecting expressions of their unchangeable Redeemer :

"We bring them, Lord, by fervent prayer,

And yield them up to Thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.

If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;

That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust!"

So far, then, from forbidden ground, it is ground to which they have been invited, on which these songs are sung; where, fixing their eye on the Saviour himself, encouragements of the highest order are scattered all around him. For his sake alone, their Creator has become their reconciled Father, who will, with Him, most freely give them all things. Thus have they actually become heirs to all the promises ;* so that, in virtue of their interest in them, and in virtue of that singular Constitution, at the head of which such Parents stand, they enjoy the high and signal felicity of becoming blessings to their offspring. The "Fathers to the Children make known his truth." If they are blessed, with believing Abraham, they will act, as Jehovah knew he would; and so, proportionally, they shall be a blessing. Yes, they shall, inasmuch as God hath not only given

For all the promises of God, in Him, are yea, and in Him, Amen, unto the glory of God, by us. Now, he which stablisheth us, with you, in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, also freely give us all things ?"1 Cor. i. 20. Rom. viii. 32. See Ephes. i. 3.