Hush! tread softly’p speak gently! H Jesus is here. He is calling a tiny boy to Him, and now He is taking him in His arms and blessing him. “Suffer little children... to come.” He said when here, “for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt. 19:1414But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:14).
Angels have gathered in that humble room, marveling still over the mystery of God’s great salvation. On either side of the bed of the little sufferer is a messenger of God’s tenderness — two loving women, who, though not related, love him because he loves the Lord Jesus. They wept and prayed over the little one. Their long night watch is over. The first pale, quivering beams of morning fall through the half-opened shutter, upon the pillow where rests the head of the little child of three years old: his body is swollen with mortal disease; he lies in the grasp of death.
“Sing me about Jesus,” he cries, looking alternately at the weeping faces about him: and they sang.
The expression of anguish had passed from the pallid face, and it glows with a smile of love. The peace of God is upon his brow; the Name above all other names upon his lips. The eyes of the child suddenly kindle with delight; they follow some Object unseen by others, and at last become fixed in the same direction, but nearer to him, and at the foot of the bed. With an expression of intense love he raises his hands and points with his two forefingers to the spot.
“Darling Johnnie, do you see anything?” inquired one of the loving sisters, bending over him.
He turns his head to her, and with a heavenly smile replies,
“Yes, Jesus!”
Formerly, when he had seen anyone pass the window whom he did not know, he had generally asked, “Who that man?” But there was no question now; he knew whom he had believed; the Object of his young heart’s affections was before him, and he knew it. Again the enraptured gaze, and the bright intelligent smile, as if in loving recognition of Him who was his whole soul’s delight.
He beckoned with both hands; then, stretching forth his eager arms, he exclaimed joyfully, “Jesus! Jesus! I quite ready — I come!”
Then for the last time he turned to clasp the fond hand beside him; and lifting it up towards Jesus, he said, in a tone of loving invitation, “You come, too!” — and the dear lips were silent on earth forevermore.
Take home the message, little ones; take it to your hearts, fathers and mothers and teachers — and you who cast dishonor on the Word of God, and deny the blessed truth of the conversion of children.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord,” Zech. 4:66Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 4:6), hath this conversion been accomplished. “Not many wise,... not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” 1 Cor. 1:2626For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (1 Corinthians 1:26). The child-like heart shall behold the glory of Him who gathers the lambs in His bosom.
The sun was shining in its golden glory on the hill top; the little darling had passed away, folded in the Good Shepherd’s arms. He was gone! gone to be with the Lord he loved. He had believed in Him; he had witnessed for Him; and his parting song vibrates in many hearts. From a little one now on the Saviour’s bosom sounds forth the invitation— “You come, too!”
ML 02/14/1954