The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-02-11

4fAoOVs 1o. Ii.
1t is not surprising to read in the New
Testament that when the people brought
little children to Jesus that he might
bless them, the children were brought
under the displeasure of the disciples
But the rebuke given by the Savior to
His disciples calls out one of the most
beautiful traits of the Divine character
Even little children claimed the attention
of the Savior of Mankind, and when he
alluded to them as being types of the
kind of character which found favor in
Heaven, he referred evidently to their
innocence. What character could be
more beautiful than that of little child
Yet even this beautiful character soon
becomes soiled, hardened, ruined, if per-
mitted to fall into the associations of
wicked men, and even the little child is
sometimes the source of the basest decep-
tion.
For instance, notice old Bro.
over there, on this Sunday morning, as
he enters Church just as the children are
leaving Sabbath School. What happy
SLlllt tuOluo OHdo plCctoetho AoSO! 40 liz
passes along, see him tapping gently
upon the head first this one, then that
one, calculating ooh, how do love the
little childrenp' He is all patience, and
good humor. He is an old man, or may
hap middle-aged man, well acquainted
with the world, and full of experience
and self-control. He passes into the
Church, and people bless him because of
his benevolence, his evenness of temper,
his love of children. The boys whom he
has been patting upon the head go away,
and we lose sight of them. But suppos e
we take stroll, out in the pleasant air of
the Sunday afternoon. The wild, free
breezes fan the cheeks with a pleasant
welcome, nature seems returning thanks
to the great giver of all good gifts, for
the beauties and mercies given to earth.
It is a time for feeling religious. No
thing could ruff1e the temper on such a
day as this-but harkl What is that
great, unearthly commotion? There is a
crashing of briars and underbrush, and
mingled with the crashing foliage we
hear: "Y ou tormenting, good-for-nothing
imps, if 1 get hold of you I'll break every
bone in your bodies. Boys are not fit for
anything but to be killed. You are a
curse to the communityr' And he
rushes past with the frown of a Demon
be possible? 1t is, just as sure as we see
him, Bro. -, whom we saw compla-
Gently patting the heads of little boys,
but this morning at Church. He carries
a huge club in his hand, and seems pre-
pared to do all and singular the things
he threatens. He rushes away in great
rage, when bright-eyed, merry boy
crawls out from beneath bush and in
forms us that he and his companions un-
thoughtedly walked across portion of
their pursuer's meadow, or were possibly
seen walking in the neighborhood of his
melon-patch. Hence all the terrible
wrath.
Now that same Brother will get up on
Sunday, and say: Suffer little children
to come unto me, for do so love them"
A truthful expression would be: Suffer
little boys to come unto me, that I may
beat them with clubs" How many men
there are who. whilesthey will speak in
glowing terms of the beauty and inno-
cence of childhood, will, on the first prov
ocation scream at a child with the savage
ferocity of a Bengal Tiger. Show us
man who hates children, and we'll show
you man who hates God; show us
man who treats children with contempt,
and we'll show you human Brute, not
fit to be blessed with the mortal exist
ence. Show us man who cannot speak
to child, and we'll show you
a man unfit for Heaven. For there will
be children there-not the filthy, dirty,
ragged children, the subjects of mans
neglect or improvidence, but pure, clean,
lovely children, clad in the beauties OF
the Throne, and singing the songs of the
redeemed.
A good lady says, as she fondly strokes
the head of little neighbor girl: "Oh.
you saoeet little darlingT Two hours
afterward we hear: "Oh, 1 do aOish peo-
Pile would keep their nasty, impudent
brats at homer The trouble is, persons
Of mature age:forget that they were once
children A parent in this town some
months ago was trying to convince his
young son that boys were much better
or thirty years ago than they
are now. The boy began to wonder if
boys in those days were not very closely
allied to the angels. In an. unguarded
however. this parent began tell
ing his wife, in the presence of the boy,
IF some of his own boyish exploits, when
he was suddenly brought up, with:
why, the boys now would not think of
1oing as mean thing as that And thus
it is. By an impatience that is intolera-
Die. and thoughtlessness which is hu-
we consign all children to a
class of fallen humanity something far
from the pure characters aCe
enjoyed under similar conditions of life.
Some years ago. in an Eastern State, An
alleged Minister of the Gospel severely
beat a child, then attempted to get it to
endorse the beating as proper. The child
refused, and was again beaten, and so on,
until death was the result. If we thought
to Heaven, we should desire to relinquish
all thought of future glory, right now.
Love child! 1t is right to do so. Love
it with pure, earnest, warm devotion.
1t is noble and Christ-like. But if you
cannot love child, don't lie about it!
We haYe the assurance that the society of
Heaven will be like unto little children,
but we have no assurance that there
will be any liars there. Do not get
frightened at the thought. Do not adj
vance the claim that all will be lost under
such terms. 1t must be admitted that
were the truth-test to be applied sud-
denly. a great many would be caught in
a condition far short of the glory of God
But the liar must quit lying before he