(For Little Ones.)
A LITTLE girl, whose parents were both unconverted, was accustomed to go alone to a place where the gospel of the grace of God was faithfully preached. Instead of sitting idle and inattentive, as too many little ones do, thinking of all sorts of things, and, perhaps, wishing the time would pass quickly by, that they may go home to dinner or to play, this dear little girl was all attention; and when “the sower,” that is the preacher, you know, stood up “to sow the seed” of the word of God, she listened to all that was said. Now the word of God is never really listened to in vain. Those who close their ears against it are like the “way-side,” on which the seed falls only to be devoured by “the birds of the air;” but little Mary, as we will call her, was not one of these. She really listened; the Lord gave her understanding, and she believed, and was saved. With a bright and happy face she hurried home to tell her parents. They, alas! neither understood, nor cared to share her joy. But she was not cast down at that. “The love of God, shed abroad in her heart by the Holy Ghost, given unto her,” convinced her that he who had saved her must be willing to save her parents also. She set herself to persuade her mother to go with her to the place where she had got such blessing. At first her persuasions were all in vain, but she was so in earnest that she persevered even to tears, beseeching her to yield, and at last succeeded. Her mother went; the preacher spoke from “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation.” Mary’s mother found it so. She was brought under conviction, and in a little time got settled peace through the blood of Christ. How delighted little Mary felt when she saw her dear mother rejoicing in the Lord, you may easily understand, if, like her, you are a believer. But now Mary’s mother was as much concerned about her husband’s salvation as the child had been about them both, and she joined her little daughter in trying to get the husband and father to go with them. He went at last, and the Lord rewarded the earnest efforts of the wan and child by bringing him also to a knowledge of the truth, as it is in Jesus. What joy for little Mary and her mother, — a joy everlasting!
Little reader, do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? We hope you do, for it is a sad thing indeed for a little one to know nothing of one so worthy of all love. But if you do love Christ, see in dear little Mary an example which you should seek to follow. If your parents are believers, you doubtless know others who are not. Some of your friends or playmates are ignorant of Jesus. Set to work with all your heart in trying to get them to attend some place where Christ is truly preached. Talk to them, pray for them, persuade them, be in earnest, and depend upon it the Lord will own it sooner or later. But, like little Mary, you must feel for them, you must be really concerned about them; and this you will be if you truly understand the blessing you have got, and which they are lacking. Think, too, how terrible it would be if they were to “die in their sins!” To go “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched,” to be LOST forever and ever, because they have not believed in Jesus, would be a fearful doom indeed. How sad it would make you to think that you had never tried to lead them where they might have heard that Gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”