Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org

A match of a man's own making, when guided by reason and religion,
will necessarily be a happy one. When fathers and mothers make matches
for their children, which are dictated by motives, not of affection, but
merely of convenience, worldly gain, &c., &c., such matches are
generally wretched; it is Leah in the place of Rachel to the end of life's
pilgrimage.
If I be asked, "Should Christian parents lay up money for their
children?" I answer: it is the duty of every parent, who can, to lay up what
is necessary to put every child in a condition to earn its bread. If he
neglect this, he undoubtedly sins against God and nature. "But should not
a man lay up, beside this, a fortune for his children, if he can honestly?"
I answer: Yes, if there be no poor within his reach; no good work which
he can assist; no heathen region on the earth to which he can contribute
to send the gospel of Jesus; but not otherwise. God shows, in the course
of his providence, that this laying up of fortunes for children is not right;
for there is scarcely ever a case, where money has been saved up to make
the children independent and gentlemen, in which God has not cursed the
blessing. It was saved from the poor, from the ignorant, from the cause
of God; and the canker of his displeasure consumed this ill-saved
property.
Christ loves little children, because he loves simplicity and innocence;
he has sanctified their very age by passing through it himself. The holy
Jesus was once a little child.
There is no evidence in the whole Book of God that any child dies
eternally for Adam's sin. Nothing of this kind is intimated in the Bible;
and, as Jesus took upon him human nature, and condescended to be born
of a woman in a state of perfect helpless infancy, he has, consequently,
sanctified this state, and has said, without limitation or exception, "Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the
kingdom of God." We may justly infer, and all the justice as well as the
mercy of the Godhead supports the inference, that all human beings,
dying in an infant state. are regenerated by that "grace of God which