the desire of ages-第108节

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who　had　been　corrupted　by　the　foulest　sins；　he　could　say；　〃But　ye　are　washed；　but　ye　are　sanctified；　but　ye　are　justified　in　the　name　of　the　Lord　Jesus；　and　by　the　Spirit　of　our　God。〃　〃I　thank　my　God　always　on　your　behalf；　for　the　grace　of　God　which　is　given　you　by　Jesus　Christ。〃　1　Cor。　6：11；　1：4。

Now；　as　in　Christ's　day；　the　work　of　God's　kingdom　lies　not　with　those　who　are　clamoring　for　recognition　and　support　by　earthly　rulers　and　human　laws；　but　with　those　who　are　declaring　to　the　people　in　His　name　those　spiritual　truths　that　will　work　in　the　receivers　the　experience　of　Paul：　〃I　am　crucified　with　Christ：　nevertheless　I　live；　yet　not　I；　but　Christ　liveth　in　me。〃　Gal。　2：20。　Then　they　will　labor　as　did　Paul　for　the　benefit　of　men。　He　said；　〃Now　then　we　are　ambassadors　for　Christ；　as　though　God　did　beseech　you　by　us：　we　pray　you　in　Christ's　stead；　be　ye　reconciled　to　God。〃　2　Cor。　5：20。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　56

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Blessing　the　Children


Jesus　was　ever　a　lover　of　children。　He　accepted　their　childish　sympathy　and　their　open；　unaffected　love。　The　grateful　praise　from　their　pure　lips　was　music　in　His　ears；　and　refreshed　His　spirit　when　oppressed　by　contact　with　crafty　and　hypocritical　men。　Wherever　the　Saviour　went；　the　benignity　of　His　countenance；　and　His　gentle；　kindly　manner　won　the　love　and　confidence　of　children。

Among　the　Jews　it　was　customary　for　children　to　be　brought　to　some　rabbi；　that　he　might　lay　his　hands　upon　them　in　blessing；　but　the　Saviour's　disciples　thought　His　work　too　important　to　be　interrupted　in　this　way。　When　the　mothers　came　to　Him　with　their　little　ones；　the　disciples　looked　on　them　with　disfavor。　They　thought　these　children　too　young　to　be　benefited　by　a　visit　to　Jesus；　and　concluded　that　He　would　be　displeased　at　their　presence。　But　it　was　the　disciples　with　whom　He　was　displeased。　The　Saviour　understood　the　care　and　burden　of　the　mothers　who　were　seeking　to　train　their　children　according　to　the　word　of　God。　He　had　heard　their　prayers。　He　Himself　had　drawn　them　into　His　presence。

One　mother　with　her　child　had　left　her　home　to　find　Jesus。　On　the　way　she　told　a　neighbor　her　errand；　and　the　neighbor　wanted　to　have　Jesus　bless　her　children。　Thus　several　mothers　came　together；　with　their　little　ones。　Some　of　the　children　had　passed　beyond　the　years　of

512

infancy　to　childhood　and　youth。　When　the　mothers　made　known　their　desire；　Jesus　heard　with　sympathy　the　timid；　tearful　request。　But　He　waited　to　see　how　the　disciples　would　treat　them。　When　He　saw　them　send　the　mothers　away；　thinking　to　do　Him　a　favor；　He　showed　them　their　error；　saying；　〃Suffer　the　little　children　to　come　unto　Me；　and　forbid　them　not：　for　of　such　is　the　kingdom　of　God。〃　He　took　the　children　in　His　arms；　He　laid　His　hands　upon　them；　and　gave　them　the　blessing　for　which　they　came。

The　mothers　were　comforted。　They　returned　to　their　homes　strengthened　and　blessed　by　the　words　of　Christ。　They　were　encouraged　to　take　up　their　burden　with　new　cheerfulness；　and　to　work　hopefully　for　their　children。　The　mothers　of　today　are　to　receive　His　words　with　the　same　faith。　Christ　is　as　verily　a　personal　Saviour　today　as　when　He　lived　a　man　among　men。　He　is　as　verily　the　helper　of　mothers　today　as　when　He　gathered　the　little　ones　to　His　arms　in　Judea。　The　children　of　our　hearths　are　as　much　the　purchase　of　His　blood　as　were　the　children　of　long　ago。

Jesus　knows　the　burden　of　every　mother's　heart。　He　who　had　a　mother　that　struggled　with　poverty　and　privation　sympathizes　with　every　mother　in　her　labors。　He　who　made　a　long　journey　in　order　to　relieve　the　anxious　heart　of　a　Canaanite　woman　will　do　as　much　for　the　mothers　of　today。　He　who　gave　back　to　the　widow　of　Nain　her　only　son；　and　who　in　His　agony　upon　the　cross　remembered　His　own　mother；　is　touched　today　by　the　mother's　sorrow。　In　every　grief　and　every　need　He　will　give　comfort　and　help。

Let　mothers　come　to　Jesus　with　their　perplexities。　They　will　find　grace　sufficient　to　aid　them　in　the　management　of　their　children。　The　gates　are　open　for　every　mother　who　would　lay　her　burdens　at　the　Saviour's　feet。　He　who　said；　〃Suffer　the　little　children　to　come　unto　Me；　and　forbid　them　not；〃　still　invites　the　mothers　to　lead　up　their　little　ones　to　be　blessed　by　Him。　Even　the　babe　in　its　mother's　arms　may　dwell　as　under　the　shadow　of　the　Almighty　through　the　faith　of　the　praying　mother。　John　the　Baptist　was　filled　with　the　Holy　Spirit　from　his　birth。　If　we　will　live　in　communion　with　God；　we　too　may　expect　the　divine　Spirit　to　mold　our　little　ones；　even　from　their　earliest　moments。

In　the　children　who　were　brought　in　contact　with　Him；　Jesus　saw　the　men　and　women　who　should　be　heirs　of　His　grace　and　subjects　of　His　kingdom；　and　some　of　whom　would　become　martyrs　for　His　sake。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　515

He　knew　that　these　children　would　listen　to　Him　and　accept　Him　as　their　Redeemer　far　more　readily　than　would　grown…up　people；　many　of　whom　were　the　worldly…wise　and　hardhearted。　In　His　teaching　He　came　down　to　their　level。　He；　the　Majesty　of　heaven；　did　not　disdain　to　answer　their　questions；　and　simplify　His　important　lessons　to　meet　their　childish　understanding。　He　planted　in　their　minds　the　seeds　of　truth；　which　in　after　years　would　spring　up；　and　bear　fruit　unto　eternal　life。

It　is　still　true　that　children　are　the　most　susceptible　to　the　teachings　of　the　gospel；　their　hearts　are　open　to　divine　influences；　and　strong　to　retain　the　lessons　received。　The　little　children　may　be　Christians；　having　an　experience　in　accordance　with　their　years。　They　need　to　be　educated　in　spiritual　things；　and　parents　should　give　them　every　advantage；　that　they　may　form　characters　after　the　similitude　of　the　character　of　Christ。

Fathers　and　mothers　should　look　upon　their　children　as　younger　members　of　the　Lord's　family；　committed　to　them　to　educate　for　heaven。　The　lessons　that　we　ourselves　learn　from　Christ　we　should　give　to　our　children；　as　the　young　minds　can　receive　them；　little　by　little　opening　to　them　the　beauty　of　the　principles　of　heaven。　Thus　the　Christian　home　becomes　a　school；　where　the　parents　serve　as　underteachers；　while　Christ　Himself　is　the　chief　instructor。

In　working　for　the　conversion　of　our　children；　we　should　not　look　for　violent　emotion　as　the　essential　evidence　of　conviction　of　sin。　Nor　is　it　necessary　to　know　the　exact　time　when　they　are　converted。　We　should　teach　them　to　bring　their　sins　to　Jesus；　asking　His　forgiveness；　and　believing　that　He　pardons　and　receives　them　as　He　received　the　children　when　He　was　personally　on　earth。

As　the　mother　teaches　her　children　to　obey　her　because　they　love　her；　she　is　teaching　them　the　first　lessons　in　the　Christian　life。　The　mother's　love　represents　to　the　child　the　love　of　Christ；　and　the　little　ones　who　trust　and　obey　their　mother　are　learning　to　trust　and　obey　the　Saviour。

Jesus　was　the　pattern　for　children；　and　He　was　also　the　father's　example。　He　spoke　as　one　having　authority；　and　His　word　was　with　power；　yet　in　all　His　intercourse　with　rude　and　violent　men　He　did　not　use　one　unkind　or　discourteous　expression。　The　grace　of　Christ　in　the　heart　will　impart　a　heaven…born　dignity　and　sense　of　propriety。　It　will　soften　whatever　is　harsh；　and　subdue　all　that　is　coarse　and　unkind。　It　will　lead　fathers　and　mothers　to　treat　their　children　as　intelligent　beings；　as　they　themselves　would　like　to　be　treated。

516


Parents；　in　the　training　of　your　children；　study　the　lessons　that　God　has　given　in　nature。　If　you　would　train　a　pink；　or　rose；　or　lily；　how　would　you　do　it？　Ask　the　gardener　by　what　process　he　makes　every　branch　and　leaf　to　flourish　so　beautifully；　and　to　develop　in　symmetry　and　loveliness。　He　will　tell　you　that　it　was　by　no　rude　touch；　no　violent　effort；　for　this　would　only　break　the　delicate　stems。　It　was　by　little　attentions；　often　repeated。　He　moistened　the　soil；　and　protected　the　growing　plants　from　the　fierce　blasts　and　from　the　scorching　sun；　and　God　caused　them　to　flourish　and　to　blossom　into　loveliness。　In　dealing　with　your　children；　follow　the　method　of　the　gardener。　By　gentle　touches；　by　loving　ministrations；　seek　to　fashion　their　characters　after　the　pattern　of　the　character　of　Christ。

Encourage　the　expression　of　love　toward　God　and　toward　one　another。　The　reason　why　there　are　so　many　hardhearted　men　and　women　in　the　world　is　that　true　affection　has　been　regarded　as　weakness；　and　has　been　discouraged　and　repressed。　The　better　nature　of　these　persons　was　stifled　in　childhood；　and　unless　the　light　of　divine　love　shall　melt　away　their　cold　selfishness；　their　happiness　will　be　forever　ruined。　If　we　wish　our　children　to　possess　the　tender　spirit　of　Jesus；　and　the　sympathy　that　angels　manifest　for　us；　we　must　encourage　the　generous；　loving　impulses　of　childhood。

Teach　the　children　to　see　Christ　in　nature。　Take　them　out　into　the　open　air；　under　the　noble　trees；　into　the　garden；　and　in　all　the　wonderful　works　of　creation　teach　them　to　see　an　expression　of　His　love。　Teach　them　that　He　made　the　laws　which　govern　all　living　things；　that　He　has　mad