The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-11-04

luz ouDJplINN
Ministry OF Little Children" written
many years since by Bishop McIyerie'
is rcplete with touching tenderness
and speaks in melting accents to mat
parent who has consigned that cherub
from life to the cold coffin:
"The Bible makes many records,
minute and kind, Of the death OF little
children. They have their significance
Take the case Of David's family. we
lose sight of the sickness. and suffer
ing, and death of the unweaned chlld,
in the effects produced upon the royal
parent. 1t is not saying too much'
that q large proportion Of those who
are saved will be saved by the ministry
Of little children. .
Summing up the moral results OF
the year, We must not credit all TO ora
tors, and press. and institutions. These
little preachers have visited homes
and softened the hearts OF the indwell-
ers, and drawn them heavenWard,
where other voices have not been
needed.
"The strong man, unused to tears,
has bowed over the little coffin ard
wept. Undsr what sermon was he ev-
err so melted down? What other
preacher, ever availed to bow that pride
of strength. and unseal that fountain
of tears?
"The gay, worldly-minded mother
sits silent, and sheds secret tears, and
prays; and, peradventure, as these two
hearts are drawn closer by a common
grief, they think of a common tie IN
heaven, and resolve. through grace, as
the babe cannot come to them, tina,
they will go to it.
"When our little hoy died." has
been the beginning of pilgrimage o.
many bereaved parents. "When thu
baby died." dates impressions on th'
family circle that have matured t,
goodness.
"The old may outlive their friends
the middlc-aged may make enemies
who are glad to be rid of them. or
wandering off, die where none lament
but the babe is without prejudice in
life, and mighty in death. 1t is Gods
messenger of reconciliation, his flag OF
truce in this world OF enmities, and en-
vies, and wrath, and ~strifes. 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,
prolong the painful yet pleasing mem
DRY of the angel-yisitor that looked in
upon us and smiled, and went to
heaven, bidding us, amid care and sor-
row, to follow on.
"Thero is something so peculiarly
affecting in the loss of Il child, that we
sympathize with the parent who said
he believed no minister was prepared
to bury another's child who had not
buried one of his own.
"There's many an empty cradle,
There's many q vacant bed,
There's many a lonely bosom,
Whose Joy and light are fled;
For thick in every graveyard
The little hillocks lie,
Ant every hillock represents
An angel in the sky.
"A Hindoo woman said to a mis-.
sionary: Surely your Bible was
written by a woman 'WhyT BE,
cause 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 in
nocencc, and seen the desire Of their
eyes taken away at a stroke, have
found themselves busy running over
the Scriptures for faith. and gathering
up, as for their hearts, what God has
said for their little children. How
full, and precious, and unequivocal,
are the passages of comfort! The con.
clusion is, Surely the Bible was given
by n parent. And so it was. He
knows the heart of a parent, and works
in it and by it to the glory of his
grace. He weaves out of this exquis.
ito material silken cords that draw
nightly. He touches stricken souls
with this divine polarity, and then sets
the object OF affection in the skies.
40 prattling tongues, never formed
to speech, and 10 still in death, how
e%loquently you preach to us! o little
pattering feet leading the way, how
many, through rude and stormy scenes,
are follow wing after you to heaven !
We thank God for your ministry, and
if it be in vain the fault and the loss
will be all our own