the desire of ages-第89章

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n　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　made　laws　for　us；　and　that　these　laws　are　for　our　happiness　and　joy。　Do

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not　weary　them　with　long　prayers　and　tedious　exhortations；　but　through　nature's　object　lessons　teach　them　obedience　to　the　law　of　God。

As　you　win　their　confidence　in　you　as　followers　of　Christ；　it　will　be　easy　to　teach　them　of　the　great　love　wherewith　He　has　loved　us。　As　you　try　to　make　plain　the　truths　of　salvation；　and　point　the　children　to　Christ　as　a　personal　Saviour；　angels　will　be　by　your　side。　The　Lord　will　give　to　fathers　and　mothers　grace　to　interest　their　little　ones　in　the　precious　story　of　the　Babe　of　Bethlehem；　who　is　indeed　the　hope　of　the　world。

When　Jesus　told　the　disciples　not　to　forbid　the　children　to　come　to　Him；　He　was　speaking　to　His　followers　in　all　ages；to　officers　of　the　church；　to　ministers；　helpers；　and　all　Christians。　Jesus　is　drawing　the　children；　and　He　bids　us；　Suffer　them　to　come；　as　if　He　would　say；　They　will　come　if　you　do　not　hinder　them。

Let　not　your　un…Christlike　character　misrepresent　Jesus。　Do　not　keep　the　little　ones　away　from　Him　by　your　coldness　and　harshness。　Never　give　them　cause　to　feel　that　heaven　will　not　be　a　pleasant　place　to　them　if　you　are　there。　Do　not　speak　of　religion　as　something　that　children　cannot　understand；　or　act　as　if　they　were　not　expected　to　accept　Christ　in　their　childhood。　Do　not　give　them　the　false　impression　that　the　religion　of　Christ　is　a　religion　of　gloom；　and　that　in　coming　to　the　Saviour　they　must　give　up　all　that　makes　life　joyful。

As　the　Holy　Spirit　moves　upon　the　hearts　of　the　children；　co…operate　with　His　work。　Teach　them　that　the　Saviour　is　calling　them；　that　nothing　can　give　Him　greater　joy　than　for　them　to　give　themselves　to　Him　in　the　bloom　and　freshness　of　their　years。

The　Saviour　regards　with　infinite　tenderness　the　souls　whom　He　has　purchased　with　His　own　blood。　They　are　the　claim　of　His　love。　He　looks　upon　them　with　unutterable　longing。　His　heart　is　drawn　out；　not　only　to　the　best…behaved　children；　but　to　those　who　have　by　inheritance　objectionable　traits　of　character。　Many　parents　do　not　understand　how　much　they　are　responsible　for　these　traits　in　their　children。　They　have　not　the　tenderness　and　wisdom　to　deal　with　the　erring　ones　whom　they　have　made　what　they　are。　But　Jesus　looks　upon　these　children　with　pity。　He　traces　from　cause　to　effect。

The　Christian　worker　may　be　Christ's　agent　in　drawing　these　children　to　the　Saviour。　By　wisdom　and　tact　he　may　bind　them　to　his　heart；　he　may　give　them　courage　and　hope；　and　through　the　grace　of　Christ　may　see　them　transformed　in　character；　so　that　of　them　it　may　be　said；　〃Of　such　is　the　kingdom　of　God。〃




（518）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　57

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃One　Thing　Thou　Lackest〃


And　when　He　was　gone　forth　into　the　way；　there　came　one　running；　and　kneeled　to　Him；　and　asked　Him；　Good　Master；　what　shall　I　do　that　I　may　inherit　eternal　life？〃

The　young　man　who　asked　this　question　was　a　ruler。　He　had　great　possessions；　and　occupied　a　position　of　responsibility。　He　saw　the　love　that　Christ　manifested　toward　the　children　brought　to　Him；　he　saw　how　tenderly　He　received　them；　and　took　them　up　in　His　arms；　and　his　heart　kindled　with　love　for　the　Saviour。　He　felt　a　desire　to　be　His　disciple。　He　was　so　deeply　moved　that　as　Christ　was　going　on　His　way；　he　ran　after　Him；　and　kneeling　at　His　feet；　asked　with　sincerity　and　earnestness　the　question　so　important　to　his　soul　and　to　the　soul　of　every　human　being；　〃Good　Master；　what　shall　I　do　that　I　may　inherit　eternal　life？〃

〃Why　callest　thou　Me　good？〃　said　Christ；　〃there　is　none　good　but　One；　that　is；　God。〃　Jesus　desired　to　test　the　ruler's　sincerity；　and　to　draw　from　him　the　way　in　which　he　regarded　Him　as　good。　Did　he　realize　that　the　One　to　whom　he　was　speaking　was　the　Son　of　God？　What　was　the　true　sentiment　of　his　heart？

This　ruler　had　a　high　estimate　of　his　own　righteousness。　He　did　not　really　suppose　that　he　was　defective　in　anything；　yet　he　was　not　altogether　satisfied。　He　felt　the　want　of　something　that　he　did　not　possess。　Could　not　Jesus　bless　him　as　He　blessed　the　little　children；　and　satisfy　his　soul　want？

In　reply　to　this　question　Jesus　told　him　that　obedience　to　the　commandments　of　God　was　necessary　if　he　would　obtain　eternal　life；　and　He　quoted　several　of　the　commandments　which　show　man's　duty　to　his

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fellow　men。　The　ruler's　answer　was　positive：　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth　up：　what　lack　I　yet？〃

Christ　looked　into　the　face　of　the　young　man；　as　if　reading　his　life　and　searching　his　character。　He　loved　him；　and　He　hungered　to　give　him　that　peace　and　grace　and　joy　which　would　materially　change　his　character。　〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　He　said；　〃go　thy　way；　sell　whatsoever　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come；　take　up　the　cross；　and　follow　Me。〃

Christ　was　drawn　to　this　young　man。　He　knew　him　to　be　sincere　in　his　assertion；　〃All　these　things　have　I　kept　from　my　youth。〃　The　Redeemer　longed　to　create　in　him　that　discernment　which　would　enable　him　to　see　the　necessity　of　heart　devotion　and　Christian　goodness。　He　longed　to　see　in　him　a　humble　and　contrite　heart；　conscious　of　the　supreme　love　to　be　given　to　God；　and　hiding　its　lack　in　the　perfection　of　Christ。

Jesus　saw　in　this　ruler　just　the　help　He　needed　if　the　young　man　would　become　a　colaborer　with　Him　in　the　work　of　salvation。　If　he　would　place　himself　under　Christ's　guidance；　he　would　be　a　power　for　good。　In　a　marked　degree　the　ruler　could　have　represented　Christ；　for　he　possessed　qualifications；　which；　if　he　were　united　with　the　Saviour；　would　enable　him　to　become　a　divine　force　among　men。　Christ；　seeing　into　his　character；　loved　him。　Love　for　Christ　was　awakening　in　the　ruler's　heart；　for　love　begets　love。　Jesus　longed　to　see　him　a　co…worker　with　Him。　He　longed　to　make　him　like　Himself；　a　mirror　in　which　the　likeness　of　God　would　be　reflected。　He　longed　to　develop　the　excellence　of　his　character；　and　sanctify　it　to　the　Master's　use。　If　the　ruler　had　then　given　himself　to　Christ；　he　would　have　grown　in　the　atmosphere　of　His　presence。　If　he　had　made　this　choice；　how　different　would　have　been　his　future！

〃One　thing　thou　lackest；〃　Jesus　said。　〃If　thou　wilt　be　perfect；　go　and　sell　that　thou　hast；　and　give　to　the　poor；　and　thou　shalt　have　treasure　in　heaven：　and　come　and　follow　Me。〃　Christ　read　the　ruler's　heart。　Only　one　thing　he　lacked；　but　that　was　a　vital　principle。　He　needed　the　love　of　God　in　the　soul。　This　lack；　unless　supplied；　would　prove　fatal　to　him；　his　whole　nature　would　become　corrupted。　By　indulgence；　selfishness　would　strengthen。　That　he　might　receive　the　love　of　God；　his　supreme　love　of　self　must　be　surrendered。

Christ　gave　this　man　a　test。　He　called　upon　him　to　choose　between　the　heavenly　treasure　and　worldly　greatness。　The　heavenly　treasure　was　assured　him　if　he　would　follow　Christ。　But　self　must　yield；　his　will　must　be　given　into　C