Wm. Jay on "Home" Missions

A call to "home" missions:

"And oh! let parents awaken, and blend their anxieties and efforts, to bring to Jesus their children. When Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, all the wounded were to obtain cure by looking. But children were bitten, as well as men and women. Had we been there, we should have seen many a father leading along his little daughter to a place of vision; and many a mother, pressing near with her infant son in her arm, and pointing his eyes to catch the shining remedy. So has the Son of Man been lifted up, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life--and the young need him; and the sooner they are brought to him the better. The sooner will they be prevented from injuring society: the sooner will they enter on a course of usefulness, during which they will scatter a thousand blessings. If we do good to an old man, it is all-important to himself; but then it goes off with him. Whereas, the good communicated to a child, is not only valuable personally but relatively. It descends from him, and is spread by him, as he rises up and multiplies in life: and the result of the whole cannot be estimated.

"And if we bring them to him, will he reject or despise them?
Let his command determine this--'Feed my lambs.'
Let his conduct decide it--'And they brought young children to him that he should touch them. And his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.'

"Let those that have children, and let those that are children, think of this, and be encouraged.

'A flower, when offered in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice."

"Another flower thus offered, can never arrive at perfection. It must wither and die. But this flower shall live and blossom as a rose. The Redeemer will put it into his bosom; and the fragrance spread through the Church below, and Temple above."

--Morning Exercises (for Sept. 26)
by William Jay (1769-1853)