speaking. Let us think of the
blessed GOD, as the great Parent of universal Nature; whose _tender
Mercies are over all his Works_[t]; who declares that Judgment is _his
strange Work_[u]; who _is very pitiful, and of tender Mercy_[w],
_gracious and full of Compassion_[x]; who _delighteth in Mercy_[y];
who _waiteth to be gracious_[z]; and _endureth, with much
Long-suffering,_ even _the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction_[a].
He intimately _knows our Frame_[b], and our Circumstances; he sees the
Weakness of the unformed Mind; how forcibly the volatile Spirits are
struck with a thousand new amusing Objects around it, and born away as
a Feather before the Wind; and, on the other hand, how, when
Distempers seize it, the feeble Powers are over-born in a Moment, and
render'd incapable of any Degree of Application and Attention. And,
Lord, wilt thou _open thine Eyes on such a one, to bring_ it _into_
strict _Judgment with thee_[c]? Amidst all the Instances of thy
Patience, and thy Bounty, to the most abandon'd of Mankind, are these
little helpless Creatures the Objects of thy speedy Vengeance, and
final Severity?

LET us farther consider, as it is a very comfortable Thought in these
Circumstances, the compassionate Regard which the blessed _Jesus_
expressed to little Children. He was _much displeased_ with those who
forbad their being _brought_ to him; _and said, Suffer them to come
unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of GOD_; and
_taking them up in his Arms, he laid his Hands upon them, and blessed
them_[d]. In another Instance we are told, that he _took a little
Child_, (who appears to have been old enough to come at his Call,) and
_set him in the Midst of his Disciples, and said, Except ye become as
little Children, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of
Heaven_[e]. May we not then hope that many little Children are
admitted into it? And may not that Hope be greatly confirmed from
whatever, of an amiable and regular Disposition, we have observed in
those that are taken away? If we have seen [+]_a Tenderness of
Conscience in any thing which they apprehended would displease the
great and good GOD; a Love to Truth; a Readiness to attend on Divine
Worship, from some imperfect Notion of its general Design, though the
Particulars of it could not be understood; an open, candid, benevolent
Heart; a tender Sense of Obligation, and a Desire, according to their
little Power, to repay it_; may we not ho