I have known quite young children, in a dying state, when their parents
have hesitated as to the expediency of referring, in the presence of the
child, to the period of dissolution as near, in some paroxysm of
distress at once soothed and quieted by the strains of agonizing prayer
of the father, that relief might be afforded to the little sufferer,
commending it to Jesus.
From my own early experience I cannot but infer that young children do
as readily comprehend the sublime doctrine of a superintending
providence as the man of gray hairs. We know from reason and revelation
that the heavens declare the glory of God, and that the earth showeth
forth his handiwork--day unto day utterreth speech, and night unto night
showeth forth knowledge of him.
As soon therefore as a child begins to reason and to ask questions, "Who
made this?" and "who made that?" it can understand that "the great and
good God made heaven and earth." Indeed this truth is so self-evident
that the heathen who have not the Bible are said to be without excuse if
they do not love and worship the only living and true God, as God.
The man, therefore, of fourscore years, though he may understand all
things else,--how to chain the lightning, to analyze all earthly
substances, to solve every problem in Euclid, yet in matters of Gospel
faith, before he can enter the kingdom of God, must come down to the
capacity of a little child, and take all upon trust, and believe, and
obey, and acquiesce, simply on the ground, "My Father told me so.
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