(_Sunday-School Anniversary Sermon._)
xiii. 18. _Their eye shall not spare children._
This declaration is made concerning the Medes, by whom the power of
Babylon was destined to be broken. So thoroughly bent will they be
upon their mission of revenge, that they will not be turned away from
it by any appeals to their avarice (ver. 17) or to their pity (text).
The helplessness of infancy and the innocence of youth, which are
naturally so impressive and persuasive, will not avail to stay them
in their devastating career.
We should display a singular ignorance of the world in which we live,
if we were therefore to pronounce the Medes exceptional monsters of
iniquity. Alas! there are many imitators of their relentless cruelty.
In our own land children are not spared in relation to evils even
more terrible than war. Youth is always beset by dangers, even when
it is most carefully guarded; but when it is specially under the
influence of wicked men, it is often ruthlessly sacrificed.
Wide-spread is the spirit of evil which knows not how to pity it.
Examples of its existence and operations are to be found--1. In
houses where the most hurtful principles and vicious practices are
continually set before children. From their youth up they are not
spared from the most disastrous influences (H. E. I., 775-779). 2. In
business, where often the most sacred interests of childhood are
sacrificed for the sake of gain. Their health, by inflicting upon
them excessive labour. Even their morality, by fiends who tempt them
into haunts of vice. Compared with these incarnations of diabolical
cruelty, the Medes were merciful.
The season of childhood appeals to our concern and should awake our
compassion--1. By its _helplessness._ It has to lean upon others.
2. By its _ignorance._ It has had no time to learn (H. E. I., 780).
3. By its _inexperience._ Unless it is aided by the guidance of
mature wisdom, it must almost necessarily go astray. 4. By its
_peculiar susceptibility to every kind of moral influence._ To these
appeals let us give reverent, cheerful, and thoughtful heed. Let us
not be content to shudder at this prediction concerning the Medes, or
at such historical records as that of the slaughter of the children
of Bethlehem (Matt. ii.); let us make the children the objects of our
care. 1. Let us spare _our own children,_ from all unreasonable
demands upon them, from the mischiefs that will inevitably come upon
them if we do not carefully train them in the way they should go.
2. Let us spare _the children of the poor_ from the evils of
ignorance. These evils are terrible and far-reaching. Not to rescue
them from these evils when we have the power to do so, is to doom
them to them. In the Sunday-school we have a means to rescue which we
cannot neglect without sin.--_William Manning._