December 29

The promise is unto you, and to your children.

ACTS ii. 39.

Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. — MATT. xix. 14.

THE children were brought for the symbolic touch of Jesus' hands, for the gracious power of Jesus' prayer: and even the disciples rebuked them, perhaps because they deemed the children an untimely intrusion, too young for consideration. Not so. "But Jesus said"—the immortal words which ideally lift the children of every age into his arms. Those who know Jesus better than these disciples did, those who have themselves become as little children in their trust, love, hopefulness, and that wonder which may be touched into worship, both recognize their children's need of being brought, and instinctively desire to bring them unto him. They are burdened with the fact that the child's nature is liable to the touch of Satan and of sin, whose touch is death, and they long for the laying on of those hands that bless because they are accompanied by the prayer which is prophetic of salvation. Christian parent, let not your ambition for the child's worldly welfare, your sinful failure to know Jesus in the fulness of his grace, hinder your child from coming, or yourself from bringing him to Jesus. Your children may die. Hear then the words. "Suffer little children and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

W. C. Stitt

"Let them approach," he cries,

"Nor scorn their humble claim;

The heirs of heaven are such as these,

For such as these I came."

ONDERDONK.