and drawn by the example, and melted by the tenderness, and converted by the teaching of a Christian child. A thief once said to his little boy, as he was laying his hand on

his spoil. "No one sees us." "There is

one sees us," said the child.

"Where?" said

the father. "God sees us," said the child. Smitten by that word, he left his spoil, and went home sorrowing as he went, and became an humble and faithful servant of the ALL SEEING God.

III. They are united to this kingdom in their enjoyments.

Children who love and serve Christ, enjoy sweetness and serenity of mind. "Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them." The grace of God subdues more and more, their unkindness, ill nature and discontent, while it sheds abroad his love in their hearts. And even to them that is fulfilled which Jesus promises not to years and learning, but to love and obedience; He and his Father love them, and come unto them, and abide with them. Yes, of children, and even of little children it may be said, that the Father and the

N

Son have fellowship with them that their joy may be full.* Did you ever hear how the little girl replied to the vain unbeliever, who thought to puzzle her, by asking, "how great is your God?" She replied, "He is so great as to fill immensity with his presence, and so kind, so condescending as to take up his abode in my own little heart." So it is; a little girl may know and feel that the great God abides with her heart. While she believes that he dwells in his high and holy place; while she looks upward to the heavens, and sees how he brings out nightly their host; and while she loses herself in wonder at this amazing God, she can still feel, that he is nearer and dearer to her than her parents, or than her sister that lies in her bosom; and though she cannot see him, can talk to him and tell him her wants, and ask his forgiveness, and seek his blessing, and think upon his goodness, and feel that when she draws near to him, he draws near to her; and emptied of her pride, and mourning for her sin, and sensible that she is but an ignorant

* 1 John 1.

child, she may feel that she is filled with the fulness of God. The Father and the Son have fellowship with her, that her joy may be full.

IV. They are united in their prospects.

Pious children are heirs of the kingdom of heaven, and will enter into the full glory of that kingdom when they die. In their childish bosoms they already feel the spirit of heaven, and their pious comforts, are a measure of the joys of heaven; and should they die in childhood, they would go immediately, to be with Christ where he is and to behold his glory. So I believe, it has often been. Many a child, whose little span of life left it ignorant of human arts and knowledge; whose usefulness and duty were confined to his family and the little circle of his mates; whose feet never travelled beyond his native vil. lage; whose existence was scarcely known to a thousand of the inhabitants of our world; has lived the daily object of the Saviour's care, the daily abode of Father, Son, and Spirit; and on his death-bed has conversed with his God and Saviour. And when the darkness of death was beginning to cover his eyes, has

seen the sure dawning of the light of heaven; and when he breathed out his soul in the agony of death, found himself suddenly, like his Saviour, and seeing him as he is. What a change is this? The child that was waiting on its parent's guidance; that was learning from its parent's knowledge; rises from the struggles of death, from its wasted, corrupted body, and in an instant joins with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Moses, and Samuel, and Peter, and Paul, in the songs of heaven, and sings as holily, as joyfully as an angel.

Thus, pious children are members of the kingdom of heaven. They are united (to it in their feelings; in their services; in their enjoyments; and in their prospects. Wonderful kingdom? It receives not the great and the wise of the world, because they are wise and great; it casts not out little children, because they are ignorant and weak. It is honoured and glorified by the aged saint, when he has fought a good fight, and has kept the faith, and waits, expecting a crown of righteousness; it is honoured and glorified by the least and weakest child that submits to its king. It is so great as to exceed the com

prehension of the angels, and yet so simple, that a little child can see and rejoice in its glory. It commands the services of kings and princes, and of myriads of high and holy angels; it receives the services of little helpless children. It has for its king, the KING OF KINGS, the Lord of all; it will subdue all other kingdoms, and will stand for ever; and yet its glory would not be complete, if the little span of childhood did not shine in goodness, and did not extend itself into the bliss of an angel's eternity.

Dear children, in your days of childhood, come to the arms, receive the prayers and blessing of your Saviour.