they were not dreaming, as this youth,
hitherto so modest, and unassuming, in authoritative tones pointed out
to them their mistakes and the fearful consequences arising from them.

We want men and women to go from house to house, to gather in those who
have wandered from God. But whose fault is it that they have wandered?
Answer it, ye fathers and mothers. Your judgment is better than the
Almighty's.

When the woman was taken in sin, he said: "Martha do I condemn thee! go
in peace and sin no more." Didn't He open up heaven just then, even to
that sinner? He who 'knew no sin.' But it does not do for us, standing
in our strength and wisdom, to say to the weak and erring, to the young
and foolish, "We feel for you; our hearts are not too old--we are not
too far removed from you by grace, to know what snares surround you. But
we will gather about you with loving hearts; we will give you kindly
counsel, not sharp reproof; neither will we condemn you.

"How many little ones do you carry to Christ every day, my brother, my
sister? Remember He expects you to lift them up by your prayers and
efforts, and bear them to Him. He waits with open arms. Whom by kind
words and loving deeds, and earnest prayer, have you drawn toward Him?
Or whom have you driven from Him, by reproof, fault-finding, and holding
yourself aloof? You are afraid the church will be desecrated by the
gathering of our young people; they will have such a pleasant, happy
time in their weekly meetings, that they will not reverence God's house.
Think you, you are more pleasing in His sight, you who turn out of the
way the lame and the blind. Ah, it were better never to have been born,
than by narrowness of soul, by false reasoning, and warped judgment, to
have led astray, or turned aside from God one of these youthful souls.
As fathers and mothers, should you not rejoice that your children are
among you; that they are improving the gifts bestowed upon them by God,
and fitting themselves to fill higher places in the church and the world
than you.

"And now, dear friends, fathers and mothers, men and women naming the
name of Christ, by His love I beseech you, go out to-day stripped of
your prejudices, and your robes of self-righteousness; go out with
humility, with yearning, Christ-like love, and say: 'We are all sinners;
we need each other's help, and the Saviour has need of all. We will go
hand in hand through joy and sorrow, through toil and temptation, up to
t