St. Paul daily globe., 1888-06-25
A CHILD'S MISSION.
The Good Which Child May Do
in the World.

At the Grand opera house yesterday
morning, Rev. Marion d. Shutter
preached to large congregation from
Mark X, 14-15:
The humanity of JESUS, said he,
comes out in the passage l have taken
fer text, and in other passages that
speak of His relations to the little ones.
These touches are full of beauty and
pathOs. They give us glimpses into His
heart by which he is made dearer than
ever to u.s.. There was no impossible
gulf fixed between His nature
the divineSt man that ever lived,
indeed; but still man. He came into
this world as all children come. His
father and mother were the human
Joseph and Mary, simple Judean peas
ants: and, though Jesus was filled with
the Spirit of God, and exalted by it. He
was never separated from the race He
was destined to bless and save. The
drapery that loving hands have hung
about the story of His birth adorns the
cradle of every newborn child. In that
cradle a new Messiah lies. The star
shines over Him. The heavens blaze
with angels and ring with song. Every
tribute is laid at the feet of the new
OOIH Mig SlltS. IICopSc diio uefotloll-
The story of Christ's coming is pict-
ure of the advent of every babe. When
Jesus says, Except we be converted
and become as little children, We shall
not enter the kingdom of heaven" it
is not the helpleSSneSS and ignorance
of childhood that He wishes to recon-
mend. but the spirit of childhOOd-itS
innocence, meekneSS, cheerfulneSS, af-
fectiOn, teachableneSS. 1t is not the in
tellectual, but the moral standard of
childhood to which the disciple of
Jesus must come. The kingdom of God
is revealed in the heart of child. 1t
gives us an idea of character. 1t fur
nishes a perpetual inspiration. The
cradle is the center in every house
hold. The little boy or girl is always
little children" said Richter. They ap-
peal to and develop the best part of
our nature. They make us careful,
unselfish and patient. l know of one
who was carrying his sick babe by night
upon pillow. But with all his care
the child cried with pain and thought
papa was handling it very roughly. The
father thought: My poor baby, / wish
you could look into my heart and see
how love you and how am trying to
ease your pain!" And then he said
to himself: II am only larger infant
in the arms of my Father. l think l am
roughly handled sometimes, but if l
could look into the infinite heart should
find that at the center all is love-" We
learn from childhood that religion does
not consist in intellectual beliefs, but
essential character. Through human
love God tries to teach us something
about His own love. Our:love for our
children is truly love for God. Now
many heart has been made wretched
by the miserable notion of a God who
was supposed to be moved by jealousy
like that which rankles in the breast of
man! How many a mother has felt
when she bowed over the prostrate form
of her babe. that the little one was taken
because she loved it too well; that God
was angry because so much affection
was lavished upon that sweet young
life; that He wanted the affection Him
self and removed the child in order to
| gain it. AS if such an act on the part
| of creature or creator would will love
| Affection is not won by murder. TO
| the honor of God be it spoken, He does
not interfere, in jealousy or caprice,
with the laws of life and death! There
! is reason for everything, whether we
| can trace it or not. There is a natural
and not an unnatural or arbitrary cause
for the dropping of every bud from the
| tree of life. ''Love is of God," and
He does not seek to Quench it. every
one that loveth is born of Cod" and
the affection that is poured out upon
the child is an offering to God Himself.
Bending over the cradle of an infant is
| bowling before the throne of the Eter-
| nal!