VIII. Another thing that many have disliked is the religious
meetings of children to read and pray together, and perform religious
exercises by themselves.
What is objected is children's want of that knowledge and discretion
which is requisite in order to a decent and profitable management of religious
exercises. But it appears to me the objection is not sufficient. Children,
as they have the nature of men, are inclined to society; and those of
them who are capable of society one with another, are capable of the influence
of the Spirit of God in its active fruits. And if they are inclined by
a religious disposition, which they have from the Spirit of God, in order
to improve their society one with another, in a religious manner, and
to religious purposes, who should forbid them? If they have not discretion
to observe method in their religious performances, or to speak sense in
all that they say in prayer, they may notwithstanding have a good meaning,
and God understands them, and it does not spoil or interrupt their devotion
one with another. We who are adults have defects in our prayers, that
are a thousand times worse in the sight of God, and are a greater confusion,
and more absurd nonsense in his eyes, than their childish indiscretions.
There is not so much difference before God, between children and grown
persons, as we are ready to imagine; we are all poor, ignorant, foolish
babes, in his sight. Our adult age does bring us so much nearer to God
as we are apt to think. God in this work has shown a remarkable regard
to little children; never was there such a glorious work amongst persons
in their childhood, as has been of late, in New England. He has been pleased
in a wonderful manner to perfect praise out of the mouths of babes and
sucklings; and many of them have more of that knowledge and wisdom that
pleases him, and renders their religious worship acceptable, than many
of the great and learned men of the world: it is they, in the sight of
God, who are the ignorant and foolish children; these are grown men, and
an hundred years old, in comparison with them. It is to be hoped that
the days are coming, prophesied of, Isa. lxv. 20. When "the child
shall die an hundred years old." I have seen many happy effects
of children's religious meetings; and God has seemed often remarkably
to own them in their meetings, and really descended from heaven to be
amongst them: I have known several probable instances of children's being
converted at such meetings. I should therefore think, that if children
appear to be really moved to it by a religious disposition, an not merely
from a childish affection of imitating grown persons, they ought by no
means to be discouraged or discountenanced. But yet it is fit that care
should be taken of them by their parents and pastors, to instruct and
direct them, and to correct imprudent conduct and irregularities if they
are perceived, or any thing by which the devil may pervert and destroy
the design of their meetings.--All should take heed that they do not find
fault with and despise the religion of children, from an evil principle,
lest they should be like the chief priests and scribes, who were sore
displeased at the religious worship and praises of little children, and
the honour they gave Christ in the temple. We have an account of it, and
of what Christ said upon it, in Matt. xxi. 15, 16. "And when the
chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the
children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David,
they were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what those
say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea, have ye never read, Out of the mouths
of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" |