Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-02-07
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning Feb. 10.
Comment by Rey. =. III. Doyle.


Comment by Eev. Z. Fl. Doyle.
ToPiC.-Becoming gs Iittle children.-LuIze
xviii, l5-l7; Math. xii 25, 26- Union meeting
with the Juniors suggested, Tel by Junior su-
perintendent.
In each Of the topical references there
is different sense i'll which We are to
become as little children and each for
adifferent purpose III Luke it il assert
ed that we are to become as little chill
dren that we may enter the kingdom IF
heaven, while id the reference il Mat
thew in different sense we are to be-
come as children that we may under
stand the mysteries of God I plan Of re-
demption.
!. Becoming a. little children that
we may enter the kingdom Of heaven
(Luke xviii, 1919. s'Whosoever shall
not receive the kingdom Of God al lit
tie child shall in nowise enter therein. *
These are the words of Christ to the dis-
ciples when they rebnked the people for
bringing their infants to Him that He
might bless them. The meaning il that
to enter the kingdom Of heaven one must
become possessed Of such q disposition
as child possesses. There are many
characteristics Of the natural child life
disposition that could with profit Be Dos
sessed BY the Christian, but only the
two most prominent need be referred To
one positive, the other negatiYe-hu-
mility and confidence. To enter the
Lyiney1o,,, rf baarYcr, ~r-o 49,, ~, -.1+--.-, A
these natural dispositions of child life
HumbIeness il a characteristic of chill
dren, and is also one Of the necessary
requirements to admission To Gods
kingdom. God hates pride and arrogan-
cy and turns from them, but He il ever
ready to receive the contrite and humble
spirit Confidence il another element of
child life and Of the true child of God
The child trusts his parents implicitly
and with the heart, simply because they
are his parents. 50 we are to trust God
absolutely because be il God.
2. Becoming az little children that
we may understand the great truths Of
the gospel Math. xi, %, 26l III thank
Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, because Thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast re-
vealed them unto babes tlIath. ii, 25l.
These are words taken from prayer Of
Christ probably offered to God after the
return Of the IL from a missionary tour
with cheering reports. 1t alludes to the
fact that God had revealed the things Of
Christ's kingdom to unlearned and un-
cultured men, such as the Galilean fish
erman rather than to the wise and in
telligent, such as the scribes and Phari-
sees. This fact is still prominent today.
The world by human wisdom knows not
God. The greatest scholars, the greatest
statesmen, have often been the greatest
strangers to the gospel mysteries. We
often wonder why it is 30. 1t was God 3
will Even 50, Father, for 50 it seemed
good in Thy sight This fact teaches
us that, whether ignorant or learned, to
understand God secrets we must come
as children. a. if We had no earthly
wisdom and learning, and believe III
God not because Of our education or
wisdom, but with the same confidence
and childlike trust as if we had none Of
these things
Bible Readings --Ps. cxlviii, II, 13;
Prov. xv. 33; Isa- xi, 16; Eccl. xii, II;
Math. xviii, IA; xxi, b, l6; Mark <,
1915; Luke TX, 46-48; John iii, is;
Cor. xiv, 20; Eph- iv, /, q