firft view, we plainly perceive to be kind SERM. and gracious.

The disciples rebuked those who brought them. They turned them away, as impertinent and troublefome. They refused them admiffion to the prefence of their master, and reproved their defign in coming to him. But when Jefus perceived what had been done, he was much displeased, and said unto them: Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; nor their friends, who would bring them to me. And thofe in particular, who were now brought to him he received. Some of them he took up into his arms, and affectionatly embraced them: on all he layed his hands, and blessed them.

How he blessed them, or prayed for them, the Evangelifts have not faid particularly. But we may reasonably conclude, that he offered up to the Father fome prayers for them, fuited to the doctrine taught by him.

Poffibly he prefented fome requests, agreeing with the prayer, he had given to his disciples.

Or, he prayed for them, "that they might "know God, and him whom he had fent, "fo as to obtain everlasting life."

Or,

VII.

SERM.

VII.

Or, "Father, fanctify thefe little chil"dren through thy truth: thy word is "truth."

Or, "I

pray not, that thou shouldft now "take them to thy-felf out of this world, though it be a world of fnares and forrows: "but I pray, that thou wilt keep them from "the evil of the world. Father, keep through

thy own name these little ones, which have "been now brought unto me."

In fome fuch way as this, we may suppose, he bleffed these little children, or prayed for them, and recommended them to God: that is, in a manner becoming his affectionate concern for their real welfare, and everlasting happineffe, and his near relation, and intimate union with the Father.

IV. The fourth and laft thing to be observed by us is Chrift's declaration concerning these little children: Of fuch is the kingdom of heaven.

So here in St. Matthew. But in the two other Evangelists the expreffion is: Of fuch is the kingdom of God. Which two expreffions are equivalent, denoting one and the fame thing; the gospel difpenfation, the state of

VII.

things under the Meffiah, or the church and SERM. kingdom of God on earth, in which men are prepared for the heavenly ftate, the church and kingdom of God above. Therefore John the Baptist said: Repent ye, for the kingdom Matt. iii. of heaven is at hand. And fo Jefus preached 17.

likewife.

Of fuch is the kingdom of heaven: that is, of fuch confifts the kingdom of heaven. Or, to fuch belongs the kingdom of heaven, with it's privileges: fuch as these are the members and fubjects of God's church and kingdom on earth, and heirs of his kingdom in heaven, with all it's riches and glorie.

The chief difficulty is to determine the meaning of the word fuch: there being, as it is thought, an ambiguity in that expreffion. And it may be queftioned, whether we are hereby to understand: of fuch as refemble thefe little children is the kingdom of heaven: or, of fuch little children as thefe. I shall therefore obferve to you, how these words are paraphrased by some pious and learned expofitors of Scripture.

Upon thefe words an ancient writer ob

ferves

Chrift does not fay, of thefe, but

of

2. ch. iv.

Theophyl. in Evang. p. 112.

SERM.
VII.

of fuch, is the kingdom of heaven: that "is, of perfons of fimplicity, who are in"" nocent, and free from vice and wicked"neffe." A modern writer * explains the words in this manner: "Of these, and fuch "like. Chrift does not exclude children, "when he includes the adult, who are like "them." Another learned interpreter + of our time thus paraphrafeth the words of the text. "Do not hinder little children from "coming to me. For it is thefe, and men "qualified like thefe, with innocence, hu

mility, and a teachable difpofition, free " from all prejudices, and cuftoms of fining, "that are the only fit perfons to be made > "members of my church on earth, and in"heritors of the kingdom of God in hea"ven."

And we are farther affured, that our Lord intended to fay: "Of fuch as are like these "little children is the kingdom of heaven;" because he does exprefsly recommend refemblance in what follows in St. Mark, and St. Luke. Verily, I fay unto you: Whosoever Shall not receive the kingdom of heaven, as a little child, fhall not enter therein. And, I

Luc. Bru. ap. Pol. Syn. + Dr. S. Clarke.

think, the other fenfe, though not fo cer- SERM.

tain, ought not to be quite fet afide that

is, to these, and fuch little children,` (as "well as those who are like them :) belongs "the kingdom of heaven."

However, it is fit, we fhould confider, what Chrift recommends in these words, and wherein they who are adult, and grown up to years of underftanding, ought to resemble little children. Let me mention three or four things: freedom from prejudice, or openneffe to conviction: freedom from pride, or humility freedom from worldly affections, or indifference to earthly things: and finally, freedom from cuftom of fining, or inno

cence.

1. One thing obfervable in little children is freedom from prejudices, or openneffe to conviction: which is one great part of a teachable difpofition. Indeed, they do not know the truth. But then, neither are they prejudiced against it. And by that means they are ready to receive it, when proposed to them. This is a property, which all ought to aim at, and to preferve, fo long as they are imperfect in knowledge. The want

VII.