The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-02-23
SUNDAY READING.
The Mission Of Children.


4
a late writer makes use Of the following
hypothesis, Take away the child out ofthe
nation, and that nation is ruined God has
taken away His Word and His prophets, and
suffered nations to walk in their own ways,
because Of their unbelief but however brut-
allied in barbarism, Or debased BY corrupt
civilization, He has left unto them babes
and sucklings, to fill their hearts with love
and gladness. He hath ordained that while
the earth remaincth, children shall abound
everywhere, is common blessings as the rain,
the sunshine, and the revolving seasons.
| We may refuse to give heed to them, We
may hruise their young hearts is carelessly Is
We may crush the wild flowers beneath our
| feet We may roughly thrust them aside when
they come in our way, or despise them -
mere playthings, but in the sight Of God,
those are offences against Him, by which -
fearful penalty Is incurred lie has sent them
for 4 purpose. To make this purpose felt,
| lie has thrown around these unconscious
preachers. an attractiycncss which draws the
hearts Of all who come into their companions
ship. The criminal, hardened to all other
influence, is melted and subdued in their
presence. The mi~anthropc who shrinks
coldly and distrustinaly from his fellow men,
is strangely warmed hy faith in some loving
| child, and it i to The little ones the Christian
laborer gladly turns, when sckencd and
grevcd BY scof1ing rcprohatcs, that he may
be checrcd and strengthened BY a renewed
hope for humanity.
So the Son Of God came as a babe, the
nursing of'a human mother, and passed from
her arms through the progressive stages Of
childhood He knew children better than We
know them. Through His Godhead, He
looked into the depths Of their spirits;
through His human nature lie was touched
with more than love and sympathy, for he had
| been il all points like them, save the Acshy
talnt of man i hereditary disease
| It was therefore, no ideal drama Of child
hood, which led Jesus to point to children as
chosen types Of those who were 10 be the
! greatest III the kingdom Of Heaven The
| little child lie called to him and set in the
midst Of Ills disciples, was the nnconcious
wielder Of a power under which they quailed,
is they measured their own spirits BY the
model He placed before him Familiar as
are the words of Jesus in reference to child
rcn. yet there are deeper truths to be envolv-
ed from them, than have as yet been unfold
Cd by human commentators. The prominence
given to children throughout the whole Bi-
bic, has meaning still too imperfcctly un-
derstood, to meet with sufficient attention Or
acceptance even from Christians. 1t is evil
dent however, that in the lapscd condition Of
our race, God has designed that children
should be made power for good, and has
graciously promised "a goodly seed - the
unfailing result Of obedience to the law and
order Of his own system Of training.
| The nation has become awakened to the
Importance Of children a. a power for evil.
Bcggars and criminals have long been fully
aware Of their value as agents, and have care
fully trained them in the arts and practices
Of pauperism and villainy.
| The public conscience is now and then
startled BY the disregard for parental authosi-
ty, the vice and immortality found amoak ~
sons and daughters Of the higher s1.nseeL
There are sign: Of the times demantlinx ~
attention Of the patriot and the Christ;an.
and among them none are more impout6nt
than the present condition and prospective
destiny Of the child in our nation.
IN the word Of God, children are spoken
Of a. blessings. But there il no cift Of Odd
above the abuse of man. II il riehteous
ret9bution that if his blessings are slighted
or abused they will Be made the medium N
curses. If ye will not lay it to heart to Riye
glory unto Ny name, will curse your bless
Ings- saith the Lord A corrupted seed
j. the prophetic result, when the commands
of Goa are dishonored and disobcyed.
The present condition Of the majority ofour
children, shadows forth our country's future.
II it be more ominns Of evil than auspicious
of good, We must 90 to the Law Of God TO
seek . remedy, and begin where He com
lnanded Us 70 begin, with the Child N The
| Family ~ + E1omiaer.
| a GLORIOUS THISG When John Fos-
ter was prostrated by disease when his no
bic intellect was like strong man fettered, !
friend said
1t must be hard thino for you IS