The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-06-20

heaven that one OF these little ones should perish
Matt. xviii. IA.
DAILY HOME READINGS
M.-Matt Xviii Ia. Th.-Jas. iv. I-I7.
T.-Luke tx 1850 Phil il TIT
W.-Matt. xiii S.-Col Ill 1921
Shark tx. $3.50
We covered the time in the life of Christ be-
tween the Sermon on the Mount and the Trans
hguration, during the second quarter We begin
the third quarter with incident in the life Of
Christ that occurred after the Transfgura-
ton On returning to the foot of the mountain
after the glory seen the mount about which
they were charged to be silent, they were met by
a man who begged Jesus to heal his son. who was
a lunatic. The disciples had failed to heal him.
And Jesus rebuked the devil, and he departed
out OF him. and the child was cured from that very
hour. From glory, he direct to the relief
of suffering and sim
Taking up his journey again, he with his
disciples to Capernaum, and there he performed
miracle to provide money to pay tribute for
himself and Peter. cat the same time came the
disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is greatest in
the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus answer gives
us the subject of our lesson-Jesus and the chill
dren.
We must not fail to impress upon children that
Jesus always loves and welcomes them, and di-
reefs how they shall be provided for and watched
over but in this lesson it is the childlike spirit
that he is emphasizing.
In spite of Jesus efforts to impress upon his
disciples the spiritual character of his kingdom
they still chung to their worldly hopes Jesus had
noticed their earnest discussion their return
journey and drew them out by asking: what
were you discussing earnestly you
along?" Their wanting to know who should be
greatest gave Jesus his opportunity to explain
true greatness
He took little child in his arms and said: al
tell you unless you change and become like little
children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven
at all" Any who will humble himself like
this child-that man shall be the greatest in the
kingdom of heaven. Thus Jesus gives them
entirely opposite standard of greatness to their
own.
Self-seekng has no place in his kingdom. The
highest place is that nearest God-and being a
spiritual kingdom, nearness to Him consists in
thinking, feeling and acting He does; oneness
of interest with Him. The lowest place is the
as a center. The self-seeking habit is misery to
ourselves and repugnant to other people, as we'll
as to God. AS always God gives his best freely
each heart craving true greatness may have it.
In this lesson we warned of the terrible con-
sequence of causing others to sin Christ puts it
very strongly to us The thought of the awful
sin of the tempter should awe and humble us
that will seek constantly that realization of his
presence in which is safety
Jesus does not mean that it is possible to enter
into life halt; he simply that it is far better
to enter into eternal life, without enjoying the
things which lead us to sin, than to enjoy them
and be lost"-Pel1.
That in heaven their angels do always behold
the face of my Father which is in heaven" shows
us the Fathers peculiar care for the little ones,
even If we cannot interpret it farther
In the beautiful parable of the Lost Sheep-the
rejoicing is because of the fearful perils from
which the sheep has been delivered; not because
He thinks more of the one lost sheep than Of the
ninety and nine.