Matthew 19:13-15 Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.… I. THEY NEED THE SAVIOUR. 1. AS children, they are within the covenant and provisions of grace. 2. They are naturally blind and dark. 3. Nor let us forget that they are guilty. 4. They need, therefore, to be led to Jesus as penitent sinners for forgiveness and peace. They need a guide, a shield, a true friend, etc. II. THEY MAY BE BROUGHT TO HIM WHEN VERY YOUNG. 1. On this point, opinion among godly people has been very much modified since the general establishment of Sunday-schools. 2. It is a great mistake, and involves a great wrong to the child, not to insist upon his deciding and choosing Christ now, for unbelief and carnality are gaining strength. 3. There is no kind of knowledge which will find readier access to the juvenile mind, and be more easily retained there, than the knowledge of Christ. 4. How many and how marked are the examples of early piety which the Bible records. 5. The religion of children — if genuine and healthy — will differ in some respects from the religion of elderly people. Ignorant prejudice has done a world of mischief. III. ONE OF THE FIRST DUTIES WE, AS A CHURCH, OWE THE LORD JESUS IS TO ASSIST IN BRINGING THESE CHILDREN TO HIM. 1. They are our own flesh and blood. They are our own immediate successors in the Church and the world. They are immortal. They are the object of Jesus' redeeming love; they are brought within our influence that we may be Christ's ministers to them, and their guides to Him, etc. 2. The present is the golden Opportunity. The promise is true to your children, that they also shall receive:' remission of sins," and "the gift of the Holy Ghost." Bring them to Jesus! Alas! some of you parents, masters, heads of households are not yourselves following Christ, and how can you bring your children or young people to Him? Teachers, suffer the children to come to Jesus, and hinder them not, etc. (J. Findlay.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. |
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