Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1876 — Revealed Unto Babes. [ARTICLE]

Revealed Unto Babes.

Those who have the things of God sav. ingly revealed to them are called babes (Matt. xi. 25). They are for the most part babes in the world’s esteem. They are despised by “ the wise and prudent;” and it has been one reproach constantly attending the Gospel that but “the common people” have thought it worth their notice (Mark xiii. 37; John vii. 48, 49). But more especially they are babes in their own esteem. Not that some are more humble than others by nature, and that therefore the Lord gives them a pref, erence on that account; by nature we are all alike, equally destitute of the smallest good; but the expression teaches us i that those to whom the Lord is pleased to reveal these things He first empties and humbles, strips them of all ground of boasting, and brings them to a dependence on Himself. The true believer is frequently compared to a little child; and it is easy to trace an instructive resemblance. 1 A child or babe has little knowledge, and its capacity and powers are as yet very feeble. 2. A child is teachable. 8. A child is simple and dependent. Here, then, is a proper topic for self-examination. Let each one ask his heart: Have I this simple, childlike disposition? If you have, if it is the desire of your soul to be taught of God, If His Word is your rule, if you depend on His Spirit to teach you all things, and te lead you, as it were, by the hand, sensible that unless you are thus led and guided you shall certainly go astray, be thankful for this, accept it as a token for good. You are not always so; there was a time when you were wise in your own eyes, and prudent in your own sight. You have good warrant to hope that the Lord, who has already taught you tn depend on Himself, will show you all that is necessary for you to know. But if this is not the case, if you lean to your own understanding, what wonder is it that you are still walking in darkness and uncertainty ? Will you t say/<dmve read the Bible diligently; I have takea no small pains to examine things, to she which of the many divisions that obtain among Christians is possessed of the truth, out lam still at a loss ? I answer, without distracting from your sagacity or sincerity, if your inquiries are not conducted in humble dependence upon the Spirit of God, you lack that childlike disposition of the true believer. The Father hides these things from the wise and prudent, and reveals them unto babes.— John A'ewtan,