according to what without gracious interference they would become. To suppose the contrary, is monstrous; it is to suppose, that He who delighteth in mercy, lays to the charge of his creatures every instance of iniquity which, without preventing goodness, they would commit, in every imaginable condition; it is to suppose, that every possible sin must be charged upon every accountable creature. Yet even this supposition is but an equivalent to the other, that perhaps infants may be excluded from mercy, because had not death intervened, they would, if left without divine grace, have excluded themselves.

It is needless to repeat, that the temporary sufferings of infants are consistent with their interest in everlasting mercy. Exempted from misery, they had been placed beyond the province of mercy. But from the fruit of the forbidden tree, Infinite Wisdom has extracted a potion, bitter indeed, but salutary; and the hand of a compassionate Father so administers it to them, as to prevent a paroxysm evidently approaching, and without extraordinary recourse most certainly fatal.

Nor ought we to overlook the cheering consideration, that He who arbitrates in the affairs, and decides the eternal condition of mankind, is God in Christ; that He who loved us and gave himself for us, is invested with all authority in heaven and in earth, and has the keys of Hades and death. The

life and death of infants therefore are under the administration of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The dominion which as Mediator he exercises over the world, is indeed subordinate and delegated, being administered according to the prescription of the divine decree. But, surely, none can extort from this fact a conjecture, that, fettered by the restrictions of delegated power, our glorified Redeemer is unable to indulge his native benevolence. That lovely compassion and tenderness, which formed so conspicuous a feature of his character on earth, was but an irradiation from "the excellent glory." "I and the Father," said he, "are one." "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father also." In the moral excellencies of Jesus, the perfections of Deity were embodied; the Invisible became obvious to the senses, and the Incomprehensible submitted his virtues to the contemplation of men. Full of love and grace, he appeared but as became "the only-begotten of the Father," "the brightness of the Father's glory, and express image of his person." Now, without enlarging here, on a thought which will occur again, can it be imagined for a moment, that, to such little creatures as the condescending Jesus folded in his bosom and blessed, he opens the gates of death, that he may cast them unpitied into the horrors of the dark profound? Assuredly no: is a reply which neither our judgment nor our heart can repress; for his

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benignity and condescension on earth were only a "dim transparency" of the glory that beams from his everlasting throne.

Such is a general view of the divine character and government in their bearings on the question before us, which the tenor of revelation conveys. And if the sovereignty of the universal Ruler is his prerogative of exercising mercy, and in that exercise of mercy he delights; if the blessed Jesus presides over the present and eternal condition of mankind, and his character is an exhibition of divine perfections; if also, the honours of moral government do not require the exclusion of deceased. infants from his everlasting presence, we have some substantial ground on which to rest our opinion and build our hopes, that He who gave them being has crowned and consummated that being with the blessedness for which it is adapted.

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SECTION II...

Various expressions recorded in the Scriptures of Divine regard for little Children, give further encouragement to our hopes.

These confirm the view given in the preceding Section.-A general principle explained and vindicated. Some expressions respect children in general or even of the wicked ;-injuries to them an aggravation of other crimes;-their welfare made a reason for religion;-presented as a plea for mercy;-peculiar expressions of compassion for the children of the Ninevites. Some expressions respect the children of pious persons ;these have especial interest in divine favour,-share spiritual blessings with their parents;-till they reject them ;— included in covenant transactions;-ordinances illustrating spiritual blessings appointed for them are in especial relation to God ;spiritual blessings promised to them. Though the grounds of hope for them peculiar, not exclusive.

IF on more minute investigation it should appear that the blessed God, when adverting to little children, has discovered displeasure against them or even indifference to their welfare, there would be room to suspect the validity of reasoning on general principles, however plausible it might otherwise be considered. For after all our speculations on his character, even when they are pursued under the guidance of inspiration, it is chiefly from his conduct and declarations that we must ascertain his will. The nature of God is incomprehensible, and

the great principles of his government are only partially developed; but his doings are for the most part accommodated to our limited capacities, and his word, the index of his intentions, is for all important purposes, definite and perspicuous.

But on a nearer approach to the light of revelation, we perceive nothing to invalidate the cheering conclusion to which the reasoning of the preceding Section conducted. All the human race are indeed declared to be "by nature children of wrath;" but as a full counterpart to this awful announcement, we read that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord *." On this great principle alone is it, that He, who might in equity have left our infant race to the ultimate consequences of the fall, cares for their welfare, and breathes out many expressions of kindness towards them, even before they call up his paternal tenderness, or are able to lisp out at the footstool of mercy, "Our Father which art in heaven."

Many of the instances to this effect, which are to occupy attention, do not indeed expressly relate to the eternal welfare of children, and may therefore at first thought appear to some altogether irrelevant. That from such passages the inference is not direct

* Rom. v. 20, 21.