me over the generality of my fellow-men, to assume once more the openness, the artlessness, the simplicity of childhood?

Or again shall I, on whom fate has conferred exalted rank, and unbounded riches-before whom admiring multitudes do homage-who can say to one man, Go, and he goeth-to another, Come, and he cometh-and can glad my soul with the thoughts of abundant good things laid up for each day as it returns-shall I forget the vast distance which separates me from others, and become again an humble, an unassuming, and unpretending child?

And after the same manner reasons every species of "pride of life," as well as all the lusts of the flesh," which set themselves in array against the simplicity and purity of the Gospel doctrine. But the answer to all is the same, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." These lofty looks must be brought low; these swelling thoughts, and words of vanity, must be exchanged for the more seemly and befitting language and

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demeanour of humility, meekness, gentleness. And "whosoever shall thus humble himself as a little child, the same shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven '.

Does this still seem a strange saying? Does it even yet sound too hard for us? Do we find it difficult to believe that in the dignity, and might of manhood, childlike simplicity and artlessness (even if they could be exhibited), would ever appear lovely, or of good report ?-would ever excite any other feeling than that of contempt.-Let us pause before we draw so rash a conclusion. Let us look to the character of him, by whom the words of the text were uttered, and ask ourselves, what is the feature in that character which most attracts our love? We know that when the prophet of old waited for his God, he found him not in the whirlwind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire; but he was recognised at once in "the still small voice"." And so now, perhaps, if we ask our hearts in what it

1 Matt. xviii. 4.

2 1 Kings xix. 11, 12.

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is that God, the Saviour of the world, even Jesus of Nazareth, speaks most home to them, we shall find that it is not in his mighty works, his healing all manner of disease, his triumph over devils, his restoration of the dead to lifeit is not in his heavy, though deserved denunciations, his "woe unto Chorazin, and Bethsaida!"-but in his lowliness and meekness, his gentleness and love, his washing his disciples' feet, and weeping over the sufferings of his friends. And why should not those qualities, which were altogether lovely in Christ, be equally amiable in those who bear his name, and profess to be his followers? Why should they not be as amiable in Christians of every age and of every degree, as our hearts acknowledge them to be in the little children ?"

That they really are so, my brethren, we may be fully persuaded. Artlessness and candour, singleness and simplicity of intention; the heart that imagines no deceit, and the lips that speak no guile: these points go to form a character, which

whether exhibited by the great or the lowly-by the sage or the stripling-not only invites affection, but challenges veneration and esteem. It is a character, however, which only those can realize who have been "converted" by the Gospel of Christ. The principles of the world are opposed to every particular of it. It can only be maintained in perfection and consistency, by the man who has overcome the world--by him from whose eyes the scales of selfishness have been purged away, so that he can look steadily beyond the interests of this life, to that eternal state which Christ has laid open both to him and to his brethren.

Amiable and admirable then-nay more--important and indispensable as is this childlike character, it is doubly incumbent upon us to be thankful to God; in the first place, that he hath implanted a feeling in our hearts, which predisposes us to love the pattern held out for our imitation; and in the next, because that pattern is nothing rare and recondite,

nothing which it requires diligence to discover, and study to appreciate; but is obvious and familiar, something which meets us at every turn, and offers, though it does not obtrude its lesson, every hour of our lives.

When Jesus called a little child unto him, and placed him in the midst of his disciples, he directed their attention to an object which they could not but behold with interest and pleasure, spite of the selfish and angry feelings by which their minds were agitated. Thus an opening was made for the lesson, which it was the Saviour's wish to inculcate. "Ye look upon this child with complacency and affection-unless ye be converted, and become like him in artlessness and innocence, ye shall not enter into my kingdom." Let it be our endeavour, my brethren, to turn the same lesson to the same practical account. Look upon childhood with interest we must, unless we determine to do violence to the best feelings of our nature. But though it is natural, and amiable to do this, yet (so