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INTEREST IN LITTLE CHILDREN &c. 63

rally. Undoubtedly it is by no means uncommon to meet with persons who express a dislike to children, and testify impatience at their presence. But we always understand this displeasure to be directed against certain interruptions which the young occasion, or some petty inconveniences which they bring. For if obliged to interpret it literally, as implying a feeling of aversion to childhood itself at all times, and under all circumstances, we are accustomed to look upon it as an evidence of an austere and unamiable disposition. Such at least, seems to be the general opinion of mankind.

Widely extended then as this affection appears to be, have we ever attempted to analyze it? Have we ever asked our own hearts, what, and whence it is? The interest taken in children can scarcely be identical with, or derived from that universal philanthropy which man as a social being should feel for all his fellows; nor from that higher and purer Christian principle whi teaches all men to "love as breth

because it exists in many a bosom, where neither of those sentiments is recognised. Neither again, (to come much lower,) shall we be able to account for it, by considering the agreeable amusement which children afford; amusement, however, to which the greatest and the wisest have been known to turn, as a relaxation from the severe task of thought.

Whence then is it derived ?-Why not, my brethren, from some remains of that image of God, in which we were created? Why not from some innate love of artlessness and innocence, which sin has not yet been able to eradicate or destroy? It is not, I firmly believe, an unscriptural,— and sure I am, that it is not an unreasonable view of human nature, to suppose that there are many such remains of better things still inherent in us. Shall I be told, that to advance this is to plead the cause of those who proclaim the native dignity dignity and self-sufficiency of man?-or that it tends, at all events, to encourage a perilous sense of worthiness in the heart of a being already too prone to entertain such notions ?-How so, my

brethren? What ground for boasting is there in the belief, that in spite of all the efforts of sin to deface and spoil it, that building which was intended to be the temple of the Holy Ghost, still shows in some particulars the hand of the divine architect? that even in its ruins, there are traces of beauty sufficient to point out the grandeur of the original design? In thus affirming that man's nature, though

very far gone from original righteousness, is not utterly depraved-in contending that there are yet some relics discoverable of the graces with which he was at first adorned, do we bid him glory, as if these graces were his own work, as if he had not received them? Nay-we tell him expressly that in all that is beautiful, he must acknowledge the hand of his Creator-and turn, if he would see his own doings, to whatever is corrupt and deformed. In this there is no food for pride. There is nothing which can encourage one single sentiment of self-complacence, or self-sufficiency-though there is much that ought to generate the warmest gratitude. While

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we examine the visible structure of man ; the symmetry and beauty of the outward form-the harmonizing proportion of the several members, and the exquisite adaptation of each minute fibre to the wants and exigences of human life-we are driven to confess, not only that man is "fearfully and wonderfully made," but from the perfection of the work, we infer also the perfect wisdom and power of its Author. Why should we not turn to somewhat similar account, the study of man's moral constitution? When we search and try our hearts, if perchance we discover in them any kindly feeling, any generous glow-any instinctive admiration of what is pure, and lovely, and of good report any detestation of evil,— if there be any sentiment or affection, which tells of better things than the selfishness and sinfulness which prevail too much over the usual tenor of our thoughts, -why should we not here also acknowledge the handy work of our Creator, and bless him that he hath still left within us such powerful witness of himself?--I

cannot but think that if we gave to the study of our hearts and minds, that attention which we willingly bestow upon less important subjects, we should perceive as many traces of the divinity in the moral, as in the physical structure of man.

To one such trace-to one such remnant of man's primal glory, I venture to refer the interest in childhood so generally experienced by all of us. I venture to suggest that this interest originates in some innate love or admiration of purity, innocence, and artlessness, that this fount of affection springs up in that "inward man," which would fain reverence "the law of God," though it is too frequently overpowered by the "law of sin in the members1." A feeling something akin to this is excited, I imagine, by the contemplation of the beauties of nature. No man of common sense, who beholds a beautiful landscape, and meditates upon it, can fail to carry his thoughts from creation, to the Creator. But the ma

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