The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-10-21

4 ne eQDJOAuCG GAtl aCS IRON = 0o
Ministry of Little Children" writ
ten some years since by Bishop
McTyerie, is replete with touching
tenderness and speaks IN melting
accents to that parent who has
consigned that cherub from life to
the cold eoffln:
The Bible makes many records,
minute and kind, of the death lit
tie children. They have their signi-
acance. Take the case of David's
family. We lose sight of the sick
ness, and suffering, and death ofthe
unwsaned child, in the effects pro-
dnced upon the royal parent. It is
not saying too much, that 3 large
proportion OF those who are saved
will be saved by the ministry of lit
tie children.
Summing up the moral results Of
the year, we must not credit all to
orators, and press, and institutions.
These little preachers have visited
homes, and softened the hearts Of
the indwellere, and drawn them
heavenward, where other voices
have not been needed.
The strong man, unused to tears,
has bowed over the little coffin and
wept Under what sermon was he
ever so melted down? What other
preacher ever avaiied to bow that
pride of strength, and unseal that
fountain OF tears2
The gay, wOrldly-mizded mother
sits silent, and sheds secret tears,
and prays; and, peradven ture, as
these two hearts are drawn closer by
= common grief, they think Of a
common tie in heaven, and resolve,
through grace, as the babe cannot
come to them, that they will go to
it.
"When our little boy died. has
been the beginning of pilgrimage of
many bereaved parents. "When the
baby died." dates impressions on
the family circle that have matured
to godliness.
The old may outlive their friends:
the middle aged may make enemies
who are glad to be rid Of them, or,
wandering OF, die where none Ia
ment; but the babe is without preju-
dice in life, and mighty In DEATH
1t is Gods messenger of reconcilia-
tion, his flag of truce in this world
of enmities, and enyies, and wrath,
and srtifes. 1t has strong hold on
two hearts, if no more. The empty
crib, the half-worn shoe. the soft
locks of hair, that few may see, pro-
long the painful yet pleasing mem
ory of the angeI-visitor that looked
in upon US and smiled, and vent to
heaven, bidding US, amid care and
sorrow, to follow on.
There is something so peculiarly
affecting in the loss of a child, that
we sympathize with the parent who
said he believed no minister was pre-
pared to bury another's child who
had not buried one of his own.
There's many sn empty cradle,
There's many vacant bed,
There's many lonaly bosom,
Whoso JOY and light are fed;
For thick in every graveyard
The little hillooks lie,
And every hiilOek Representa-
An angel in the sky.
A Hindoo woman said to a mis-
siOnary: "Surely your Bible was
written by q woman" "Why?"-
"Because it says so many kind
things for women. Our Shastas
never refer to US but in reproach."
Parents who have watched by the
couch of suffering innocence, and
seen the desire of their eyes taken
away at q stroke, have found them
selves busy running over the Scrip
lures for faith, and gathering up, as
a for their hearts, what God has
said for their little children. How
full, and precious, and unequiYocal,
are the passages Of comfortl The
conclusion is, Surely the Bible was
given by a parent And SO it was.
He knows the heart Of q parent, and
works in it and by it to the glory
of his grace. He weaves out Of this
exquisite material siiken cords that
draw nightly. He touches stricken
souls with this divine polarity, and
then sets the object Of affection in
the skies.
o prattling tongues, never formed
to speech, and now still IN death,
how eloquently you preach 70 us
o little pattering feet leading the
way, how many, through rude and
stormy scenes, are following after
you to heaven! We thank God for
your ministry, and if It be in vain,
the fault and the loss viii be all our
own.