the movement, and through their
influence some who preached the message were thrown into prison. In many
places where the preachers of the Lord's soon coming were thus silenced,
God was pleased to send the message, in a miraculous manner, through
little children. As they were under age, the law of the state could not
restrain them, and they were permitted to speak unmolested.

The movement was chiefly among the lower class, and it was in the humble
dwellings of the laborers that the people assembled to hear the warning.
The child-preachers themselves were mostly poor cottagers. Some of them
were not more than six or eight years of age; and while their lives
testified that they loved the Saviour, and were trying to live in
obedience to God's holy requirements, they ordinarily manifested only the
intelligence and ability usually seen in children of that age. When
standing before the people, however, it was evident that they were moved
by an influence beyond their own natural gifts. Tone and manner changed,
and with solemn power they gave the warning of the judgment, employing the
very words of Scripture, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of
His judgment is come." They reproved the sins of the people, not only
condemning immorality and vice, but rebuking worldliness and backsliding,
and warning their hearers to make haste to flee from the wrath to come.

The people heard with trembling. The convicting Spirit of God spoke to
their hearts. Many were led to search the Scriptures with new and deeper
interest, the intemperate and immoral were reformed, others abandoned
their dishonest practices, and a work was done so marked that even
ministers of the state church were forced to acknowledge that the hand of
God was in the movement.

It was God's will that the tidings of the Saviour's coming should be given
in the Scandinavian countries; and when the voices of His servants were
silenced, He put His Spirit upon the children, that the work might be
accomplished. When Jesus drew near to Jerusalem attended by the rejoicing
multitudes that, with shouts of triumph and the waving of palm branches,
heralded Him as the Son of David, the jealous Pharisees called upon Him to
silence them; but Jesus answered that all this was in fulfilment of
prophecy, and if these should hold their peace, the very stones would cry
out. The people, intimidated by the threats of the priests and rulers,
ceased their joyful proclamation as they