Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-23
"cHILDRENs RELIGION GOOD
FOR MEN," SAYS DR.. BURDETTE

AT the Temple Baptist church Rev
Robert J. Burdette preached on ''The
Childrens Religion" taking for his text
Mark 10:14: "Of such is the kingdom of
God"
Little children Matthew calls the lit
tie ones whose mothers brought them to
Jesus; young children Mark calls them;
their infants Luke says So little they
could lie in the enfolding arms of Jesus
while for one loving moment he held
them IN his tender embrace, 'and then
laid his hand upon the f1ossy head in the
blessing of the Son of God,' said Dr. Bur-
dette
.'The mothers brought them unto him.
we read, yet the dear Lord says Suffer
them to come as though love impelled
them, as indeed 1t die. For the mother
love brought them to him, and then the
love of the little one drew it-lifted it
into the arms of Love Divine. Only love
can take a child willingly from the
mother arms. Only its own love can draw
it into your own.
"If you do not really love little children
1t is in vain that you try to make them
believe you do. If you do not love ba-
bies do not try to take one in your arms
with never so many well initiated words
of endearment You may deceive the
mother sometimes, but you can't fool the
baby. You may look into the eyes of
man or woman and darken the 'oriel win
dows of the soul into artistic stained
work that will show upon the surface
just what the artist wishes men to see,
but will let no gaze pass through to what
is concealed behind the coloring.
Felt the Look
''But have you never looked down into
the face of little child and felt the calm,
direct gaze of the innocent eyes looking
down into your very heart, seeming to
read the hidden life, making brain and
soul CULVER with a sense of self-conscious-
ness? So, as they lay in his arms the
little ones must have seen and felt the
look of the Son of God returning their
own-perfect love and perfect innocence
in each. Theirs is a religion of love, then,
the perfect love that casteth out fear
1t is a good religion for child. Do you
know of any better for a man or woman?
And the child's religion is a religion of
trust. Lifted from the mother arms into
the arms of Jesus, there was no sense of
any loss. In the mother arms always
there had been love and safety and care.
When they woke a loving face was bend
ing over them and arms strong in ten
derness were wrapped around them.
When they fell asleep the cooling of the
singing voice grew softer and tenderer
and the pressure of the encircling arms
a little closer yet gentler. If the little
one, wrapped in the enfolding robes and
laid in the cradle awoke, and finding itself
alone cried out with fear, the well known
voice calling a pet name from the next
room was enough-the mother was near, |
within call, and all was we'll.
Cries Smothered
"Or, If the fear is great, swift feet of
love bring her to the side of the cradle, |
the cries are smothered in the dear pill
low of the mother heart, a broken sob
or two strangely mingled with a little
laugh of shame at the foolish fears and
Of Joy at the swift and mighty rescue,
and the little one sleeps again. That's a |
childs religion.
'It isn't a bad religion for grown |
up man or woman, is It? Always to be-
hold the face of the All-Father; always
to feel the might of the everlasting arms |
always to know that our faintest cry
will bring him to our side; always to be
able to reach out in the darkest night of
storm and danger and fear, and feeling
the clasp of the almighty hand closing
over our own, to laugh at fear and fall |
asleep again, saying What time I am
afraid will trust in thee'-that's beau
tiful religion for child years old. 1 |
know of no better for man of 49,
Then the children's religion is one of
joy. The child is naturally happy. 1t is |
hard to convince dear, blessed sunny-
faced, sweet-hearted little child that she |
is vile worm of the dust a child of
wrath. living under the fearful condemna-
tion of the law of an offended God.
Perfect Love UnattainabIe
We love our children. If we lived for
a million years and loved them a little |
better every day we'd never begin to love
them as our Heavenly Father does. The
ehild's religion Is full of singing and
laughter and joy. A little sorrow now
and again? Always; in every happy life
a little sorrow But the comfort comes
with the sorrow, and the pain and disap- |
pointment are forgotten. A little sin now
and again? In every human life some
shadow of sin. The impetuous temper.
the touch of selflshness. the stain of de- |
ceit, the weakness of pride But love
prompts the confession; love leads to re-
pentance, and oh, how quickly and how
sweetly love forgivesl And the smiles
shine through the tears again. And the
little Christian, after the slips in the
valley of humiliation, after the battle |
with Apollyon, goes on the pilgrim way
singing. That's good religion for a lit |
tie child. Do you know of any better for
a man or woman?
''Then the children's religion is a re-
ligion of growth. The little ones do not
live in their yesterdays. Some of their
mercies were Of yesterday, but their lives
and their joys and their hopes are of
today and tomorrow Always forgetting
the things which are behind, they stretch
to the things which are before
Every day a little wiser; every day a lit !
tie stronger; every day broader compre- |
cleaner judgment, deeper love
brighter faith, nobler aspirations, higher
ambitions. wider plans, hands more skill |
full to do. feet more ready to go. That's
a good religion for child. Is there any
better for the man than that he should |
grow until he is full grown man, unto
The measure Of the stature Of the fulness
3f ChristT