rious head and union of them both, and the illustrious testimony from the Father resounded on the mount. In this chapter we perceive the feelings of the Redeemer after this splendid scene. A mere man would have been elated by it, and filled with pride: even the greatest of the apostles, after he had been caught up for a short time to heaven, needed "a thorn in the flesh," lest he should be "exalted above measure." But in Jesus, immediately after this manifestation of his glory, we behold the same gentleness and mildness, the same overflowing benevolence which always marked his character. He who had just been conversing with prophets and apostles upon Tabor, immediately utters the language of the most melting tenderness towards the feeble child. " The apostles for a long time could not renounce the favourite opinion of their countrymen, that Messiah was to erect a temporal kingdom, and to be surrounded with worldly splendour and glory. Jesus frequently had combated this delusion; yet they still disputed who should be greatest in this temporal kingdom. To eradicate this prejudice from their minds, the Saviour took a little child, and placed him in the midst of them, and said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." After this solemn injunction, he addressed them in the words of our text. Although the opinion of those commentators is probably correct, who suppose that, by "these little ones," may be figuratively meant believers resembling these children in meekness, humility, contentedness, and indifference to the world; yet the whole tenour of the history shows that Jesus spoke prima rily of those who are children in age. In this sense we shall consider the words in the ensuing dis course. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones." We violate this command of Jesus, when we treat children with scorn or neglect, because of their feebleness, their ignorance, or their poverty; when we consider their temporal welfare and their eternal salvation as below our regard and unworthy our attention; when we are unwilling, by our active exertions and our pecuniary contributions, to rescue them from temporal distress, and to promote their best and everlasting interests. The word, "to despise," is used in this extensive sense in numerous passages of holy scripture. "He that despiseth his neighbour, sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he:" (Prov. xiv. 21.) a text which evidently shows, that he who does not exercise mercy to the afflicted, in the estimation of God, despises him; a text from which we may plainly infer that those who do not display by actions as well as by words, compassion to little ones, violates the solemn command of Jesus. Brethren! I come to you to-day to try the sincerity of your regard to the authority of Jesus. The great design of the Society in whose behalf I solicit you, is to benefit those little ones, in whose welfare the Redeemer takes so tender an interest. If the covetous man, when we speak to him of the wants. of these poor orphans, cries, with the hateful spirit of Cain, "Am I my brother's keeper?" If the insensible soul, that is unaffected by a Saviour's love, and bears no impression of his benevolence, cries with his crucifiers, when we urge upon him the necessities of these children, "What is that to us? see ye to that!" yet you, children of benevolence and children of God, will show your abhorrence of such a temper, and will prove by your actions that ye "despise not these little ones." Nothing can be more tender or affecting than the motives by which your Saviour urges your attention to the temporal and spiritual welfare of these children. 1. He tells you, that with whatever contempt they may be treated by the world, angels do not despise them, but joyfully guard and watch over them, and minister unto them. These exalted spirits think it no diminution of their dignity to protect and hover round these little ones. In these feeble children they see the heirs of immortality, and they delight to cherish, to prevent from being quenched in everlasting darkness, that divine spark within them, which may hereafter mingle its flames with those of the burning and adoring seraphs before the throne of God. Imitate, then, these angels! like them condescend to those of feeble age and of low estate. You constantly pray that you may perform the will of God on earth as it is done by the angels of heaven; show, by emulating these blessed spirits in their offices of love to these little ones, that you do not mock the living God every time that you present this petition unto him. When you see children, like that of Hagar, ready to perish, fly as did the consolatory angel to this desolate mother, and open, by your charity, streams in the wilderness for their relief. The Saviour has promised to his followers, that in the world to come "they shall be like the angels of God:" but in vain do you hope that you are interested in this promise; in vain do you expeet hereafter to share their glory, unless you now possess their temper, and delight to sooth the anguish of those who are struggling with misfortune, and to snatch from wretchedness those "little ones," who are languishing in want, and who are ready to sink in ignorance and vice. This motive receives new strength from the consideration, that not merely inferior angels, but the highest orders of them minister to children. The scriptures teach us that there are various ranks among these blessed spirits; there are angels and archangels, "thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers." What is the precise distinction between these different orders, we know not; but when our Saviour teaches us, that the angels who minister to "little ones," behold the face of our Father who is in heaven," he shows us that they are the highest rank of celestial intelligences. The phrase is an allusion to the custom of earthly kings, "upon whom not all their servants, but the chief of the nobility do more immediately attend, and stand continually in their presence; for to behold the face of the king, and to stand in his presence, are phrases used in scripture to signify immediate attendance upon his person."* Our Lord therefore assures us, that the care of these little ones engages even the chief of the angels, those who more immediately attend upon the great King of the universe. Think then for a moment of the dignity and elevation of these spirits; of their power, their purity, and their wisdom; and say, are they not models worthy of your imitation? Is it not more honourable to be like them than to have the selfish and obdurate spirit of hell? If they, though of a different and more exalted nature, tenderly regard these * Tillotson's Sermons. "little ones," who art thou, worm of the dust, child of corruption, that thou shouldst despise or neglect them! 2. The Redeemer presents to us another and still more powerful motive in the following verse, Despise not these little ones, for they are not despised by Him whom all the angels worship, even the eternal Son of God: "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost." The connexion renders these words most impressive. It is as though Jesus had said, Think not that they are too insignificant for the guardianship of angels; for it was to save such as them, to save the feeble and the fallen, that the Son of God came from heaven.' The whole history of Jesus proves that he regards children with tenderness; and those therefore who "despise these little ones," contemn the Redeemer. When he came into the world, he appeared not, like the first Adam, in the maturity of his powers, but became the babe of Bethlehem. When he entered upon his ministry, he often addressed them in the language of tenderness and affection. He cannot despise them, whe cried, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." In the hour of his agony and of his death, he remembered little ones as well as adults, and endured for them sufferings infinitely greater than the tenderest earthly parents could endure. He instituted a precious sacrament, the ordinance of baptism, to be a standing, visible token of his regard to children as long as his church should endure. He forgets them not now that he is seated upon the throne of glory, but communicates many blessings to them on earth, and has borne many thousands of them |