134 ¥ESUS WITH THE CHILDREN,

You remember about little Samuel,‘ who was con-
secrated to the Lord when only a lad, and how God
came to talk with him. He became a great and good
man, whom all the people revered and loved. This was
because he feared God in his youth. Itis so hard to come
to Christ if we wait until we are old; for our hearts are
filled with sin and unbelief. Jesus is ready to receive the
very small ones now; and should you think you were
too young to come to Jesus, just remember how he blessed
the little ones when he was here, and that his heart is full
of tender love for the children to-day.

Perhaps you have heard about the boy king, whose
name was Josiah. He was only eight years old when he
was made king over all Israel. It was very wonderful .
that such a little boy could succeed in such a responsible
place. Let me tell you the secret of it: “He did that
which was right in the sight of the Lord, and turned not
aside to the right hand or to the left.”

We ought to seek the Lord early, for we may not
live to grow to manhood. I have read of a little boy who
was the son of a king, that said to his teacher one day,
“Tell me how I may be ready to die.” His teacher told
him there. would be time to talk about that when he was
older. The boy said, “No; Iwas in the graveyard to-day,
and I saw some graves shorter than I am.” Will you
come to Jesus for his blessing now?