The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-26
The CHlLD-HEART.
Selected for The Times.)

l
Selected for The Times)
Jesus called little child unto HIM
| set him in the midst of them and said:
| .Whosoever shall humble himself as this
| little child, the same is greatest in the
| Kingdom Of Heaven, st. N1athew
! XVIII. ga.
1t was a great day in the Church
when the little child stood there and all
unconsciously represented the Kingdom
OF Heaven:
Dear little child!-So little that the
Saviour took him up into His arms! a
hand all dimples; a cheek so fair, made
only for the kiss of love and trust and
blessing: with clear, untroubled eyes,
full of gentleness and dreamy love. look
ing around in wonder at the scene!
And yet that child was used that day
to set forth to all the ages the King
dom of Heaven! Where, then, are the
great. the noble, the wise, the rich?
Where are the ingenious, the intellect
ual, the learned, men of mighty brain
and mind? Where are they? 1t is a
portion as man is truly learned he is
truly modest, as he is really great he is
really child-like.
We are not called only therefore to see
the child in His arms but to see also
the purer child that held the typical
one. They were both children; the child
rem of God, the one child represents the
Christ; the Christ represents the Father.
Learn Of Me- He says, for l am
meek and lowly in heart
Cniidlikeness does not mean ignorance,
nor pretended modesty. To be child
like is to be simple, trustful, utterly
unconscious OF self; full Of gentleness and
love, with sincerity Of heart and mo-
tive.
we the child-heart?
This chldlikeness is not ostentation
not a strenuous endeavor to become
a child outwardly and literally. 1t is
wholly different from that It can
only be understood in its deepest sense
and finer application by those who have
passed through the great spiritual pro-
cess. of Notwithstanding lost their
boasting at the Cross Of Christ
In order to attain this child-heart,
which is so necessary. our Lord proceeds
great; no pain too severe. If the hand
offend, or the foot or the eye-there
must be a cutting off, a plucking out.
Whatever stands in the way of that
grand spiritual educa ton must be taken
away.
Where, then. are we? Where are the
children. the little children? Let us
bring the whole matter down to POM.
We are tleological-are we Christians?
We are clever-are we good? We hear
about Christ-do we love Christ? We
We may speak with the tongues of
men. and of angels. but have we char
ity? How do we take rebukes, Sights.
rebuffs, misconceptions, misrepresenta-
lions? The great vital question is: .Em
I in the Kingdom ?''
Jesus Christ will not have the child
spirit sighted. insuted or neglected.
Why, what harm can that. do? It is 4
done everywhere by every one. But
the Master takes another view of the
case. We shall have to account for
u, oil 1a Jc
speak against sacred exercise and spir-
itual relationship will gather them
selves up into severe accusations against
us one day.
These children. these men of the child
heart, keep the world pure and sweet
Ten righteous men would have saved the
doomed city Sodonl. and to-day the
saves the world and keeps it
young.
When this fact is fully realized. we
shall live more in grace than in genius
Our life will be simple because deeply
rooted in God and in truth. Instead Of
exing ourselves with ten thousand ques-
tons which never can be settled, we shall
nestle with loving confidence in the heart
=
Of the Father
Recall the case <of Abraham. In his
simple acceptance one OF the greatest
words in our human speech or history, had
its origin.
The Lord called him out and showed him
all the myriads of stars sclntillating IN
the midnight sky and said to the old
chldless wansersa, Look up. Even so
shall thy seed be- W.saA followed? Abra-
ham, no longer mighty chzaf and dar-
Ing explorer, no longer the owner Of
countless floods and herds, became him-.
sell a little child.
. He said to Light, Stand back!" said
to the laws Of nature, Hold your peace!
said to a misgiving heart, "silence. He
believed God Abraham nestled mes IN the the
heart Of God, nurtured and fed himself on