_The Children_.
At least three-fourths of the human family are always little children. To
what does He owe the influence He exercises in the minds and hearts of
multitudes of these little ones? His exalted throne? His royal lineage?
His majesty? No; I think not to these, but to the revelation of His pity,
His sympathy, His patience, His sweet, forgiving grace, His tender
compassion as a Saviour. To them He is the "Friend above all others"--the
Lowly One, the "Gentle Jesus, meek and mild." Viewing Him thus, they
confess to Him in sin, they fly to Him in sorrow.
His creative power, His everlasting habitations, His throne of
unapproachable glory, His glorious and terrible judgments, are little more
to the children than words and phrases--may I not say?--at best but the
"trappings" of His person. They solemnise, they inspire, perhaps, with
reverent fear; but they do not, they could not, secure that true
ascendency over the nature of the child by which alone there can be real
control and true rulership.