The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-06-21
THE MINISTRY OF CHILDHOOD.
Extract from Bishop Hsrgrovos Sermon
at WoIord Commencement.

| A>AtttCk AECh AblDnOp HarGrOY6 SCT"Op
at WofIord Commencement.
Tho following il an extract form tho
sermon of Bishop Hargrove preached at
the commencement of Wexford College
on the 10th, instant:
Bishop Hargroyo's text was Isaiah ii,
6: "And a lttlo child shall lead them. !"
His subject was tho Ministry of Child.
hood. He began by stating thot angels
had no ancestry and they knew nothing
OF the family relation. Sex, matrimony
and children are human aud do not be.
long to angels. They do not know any.
thing of the blessedness of childhood.
Earth and Heaven are the only places
lllumined by the radiant smiles of iu-
fancy. Childhood is a divine arrangement
and has been distinctly and emphatcally
recognized by God IN all the great epochs
OF tho worlds history. If our first pa.
rents had ret aimed their sinless integrity
all perfections would have been trans.
mltted to their posterity through endless
ages and detection from original purity
would have been impossible. This grand
opportunity was lost and thus the curse
was entailed on posterity and depravity
| took possession of the race. But human
eXlgencY is the divine opportunity. Re-
pentance, regeneration and sanctificatiop
arc the remedial expedents by which
God sought to redeem the race.
One half Of the human race dies before
reaching the age Of five. Many of the
Others pass away before they reach the
years OF accountability. So majority
of the race is tranferred to the paradise
Of God and Heaven is peopled largely
with children. The doath Of each infant
is defeat to Satan. If the prcseuce of
the gleeful glorilied children gladden. the
streets and mansions Of tho Now Jerusn.
lem how tearsully dreary, doleful and de-
| solate must be Satan's dominions, where
| childhood never can enter.
Parents sometimes charge God fool
lshly when their children are taken away
but these little ones did not live in VAN.
They had their objective work. The
marvellous ministry Of helpleuess and
innocence has accomplished much in
mellowing and softening older hearts.
Delicate chords are touched into har.
mony by tiny fingers whore they would
not respond to the rude sweep OF older
hands. The gay, frivolous society wo.
man Is often brought to hersclt by the
death of her child. A common grief and
a common tie in Heaven binds parents
closer together here on earth. Children
are leaders towards the Kingdom Of God.
Let not everything be attributed to the
preacher. books, tho press, because
| thousands are led to q higher and better
lille through the ministry of little chill
dren.
In the first epoch of the worlds his.
| tory the means Of salvation included
the children, for Noah failed to save tho
world from the flood, but he,saved all his
own family. Then came the grand op.
portunity Of the race, tut Noah fell and
his posterity was exposed TO raVages of
sin.
Tho second epoch was when Abraham
was called to become the founder cf a
great nation and the promise was TO him
| and his children. They were included in
the covenant as often as it was repeated.
In the third epoch God commanded
Moses TO keep the children of Israel q
separate and distinct people. Special
instructions were given as TO the training
of children. In this school the Israelites
were kept with fortunes tor 500 years,
when the last great epoch was ushered
| in by the birth of tie Saviour, who con-
secrated childhood forever by His birth
IN The manger at BetheIehem. In all
His teaching lie was especially conlder.
ate oflitte children.
In all these leading opochs !he spiri-
tual agencies were directed to childhood.
At any given time the majority Of the
race is young. In this majority there
are those who will live the longest time
and exercise the greatest iD tiuence.
When one seeks to instruct children they
are dealing with those who arc to be-.
come the most important factors in work. |
ing out the worlds destiny.
The mind Of children is receptive, the |
conscience is tender, vicious habits have
not been formed, and it is easier 10 plant
good seeds which will Weld abundantly
good fruits. Childhood offers natural |
and constitutional facilities for the Oh.
eratlon OF the spirit of God. Children |
are initiative and gladly follow others. |
They are curious and are always ready |
to demand the reason for things. They |
never doubt and their faith is strong un. |
til they are deceived. This is the lorna.
tive period when character is fixed. Tho |
Impressions OF childhood are moro last
ing than those made later in life. The |
mothers smiles and cradle songs will |
all come up to the aged when they are |
descending the dark valley. Mothers |
write with indelible ink. Archmedes be. |
heved he could move the world If he had !
q place to stand and rest for his full |
crum. Childhood is the iucrum and |
eternal truth is the leYer, and by this |
fallen world can be lifted back into the
bosom of its God.
Nailed Up.