Plain Words for Christ, Being a Series of Readings for Working MenDutton, Reginald G.
Religion
Plain Words for Christ, Being a Series of Readings for Working Men
Dutton, Reginald G.
Christian life; Religion
God has committed no more solemn charge to our care than that of our
children. Over and over again in the Gospels do we find that Jesus
called attention to little children. On one occasion you will remember
that strife having arisen among the disciples, as to which of them
should be greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus, perceiving it, took
a little child, and set him by His side; and from this simple
circumstance He taught His disciples that in order to enter into that
kingdom, they must receive His message with the same simple, trustful
faith, as would a little child. And once again, we read that the
parents brought their little ones to Him that He might bless them; and
when His disciples, being vexed that their Master’s time should be taken
up with what they doubtless considered a trifling matter, Jesus, we
read, rebuked them, and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto
Me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God[#]."
[#] S. Mark x. 13.
Reader, the times have not changed so much, since Jesus walked upon our
earth, that we can afford to disregard His words. Do remember that if
you use bad language, or tell an impure story, or even speak an unkind
word, you may be putting a stumbling-block in the children’s way, and
keeping them from Christ.
And now let me say a word concerning Baptism. I do not believe, and our
Church nowhere teaches her children to believe, that a child who dies
unbaptised is in danger of eternal damnation. But she does tell us that
_the parents_ who keep their children back from that sacred ordinance,
are in danger of punishment. She goes straight to the Bible, as her
authority, and points out the blame which our Lord attached to the
disciples, who would have kept the children from Him, teaching us
thereby that the same kind of blame belongs to those parents who keep
their children from holy Baptism now.
And when your children are baptised the great thing to remember is
example. Parents, set a good example to your children at home.
Children very quickly notice anything that is wrong, and as quickly copy
it. And then they go out, and teach it to other children, and so by
your bad example at home, you may have destroyed the happiness of many
lives. Teach your children rather that they may have an interest beyond
the grave, that for them there is laid up a rich reward in our Father’s
kingdom. "I pity," says a recent writer, "the son, who has never had an
interest beyond the grave; but I pity far more the mother, who has never
told him of the rest that remaineth for the people of God."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account