SMALL AND GREAT by JOHN MATTESON

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 20, 1868

SMALL AND GREAT

By JOHN MATTESON

Are amenable to God, and will be judged by their works. The idea has greatly prevailed that most children will be saved independent of character. That they are not accountable. This is a gross error, and an unscriptural idea. I do not now speak of babes who have no understanding. Some children can begin to comprehend truth and right principles at an earlier age than others. But the Bible teaches plainly that this life is the only time for probation. The grave cannot praise God. They that go down into the dust cannot hope for the truth. Isa. xxxviii, 18. “The dead praise not the Lord.” Ps. cxv. “There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave.” Eccl. ix, 10. Therefore, if a naughty, disobedient child dies as such, it will be raised with the same disposition and character, and consequently can never enter the kingdom. Is not this proposition positively true? Can there be any exceptions to it? Parents and children, ponder well the truths of God, and consider what condition you are in, lest coming suddenly the Master find you sleeping, when probation is ended, and you perish at last.

Many comfort themselves about their children, thinking the Saviour has promised to them the kingdom, irrespective of character. This is a vain hope. “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.” What, become as a little child, naughty, disobedient child, before we can enter the kingdom? Far from it. “Whosoever, therefore, shall humble himself as this little child,” &c. The little child which Jesus placed in the midst was a humble child. “And who shall receive one such little child.” This child was a peculiar one. It was a young disciple of Jesus. For in the next verse he calls it, “one of these little ones which believe in me.” Matt. xviii, 2–6. There were young children in those days who heard the Saviour, and believed in him, and became his true followers. Such children Jesus often presented as a pattern. And justly so; for where does religion appear to better advantage than in the unpolluted morning of life. It would also be more dangerous to present older persons, though pious, as a pattern, for it would serve to flatter their pride, whilst children are unconscious of their own moral worth. I think this can be applied to every instance where the Saviour speaks of little children. The little children spoken of in Matt. xix, 13–15 were so old that they could themselves come unto Jesus, for he says, “Forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.” What a spectacle, if our Saviour had called a number of children such as many Sabbath-keepers’ houses are now cursed with. Some would fret, others scold, some strike him, and others cut up worse tricks. Then the Saviour gravely pronouncing the blessing of Heaven upon them, giving them to us as a pattern. Away with such a scene. He would have said, Of such is the kingdom of Satan.

The little child spoken of in Mark x, 15, had received the kingdom of God, or believed the gospel of the kingdom. The expression in our English version in verse 16, “took them up,” savors strong of pedobaptism. The original (ἐναγκαλίζομαι) Greenfield renders: to take into, or embrace in one’s arms. Luther’s translation has: “herzte”—embraced. Likewise the Danish.

How emphatic, therefore, the expression, “One of such children.” “One of these little ones that believe in me.” Mark ix, 37, 42. Parents, here is the Bible standard, pure and dignified. Let us try, harder than we ever have, to bring our children and ourselves up to it. Let us agonize to enter in through the strait gate, and to keep on in the narrow way.

Small and great are in the grave. Job iii, 19. Small and great must fear God, and such only as fear him, he will bless. Ps. cxv, 13. Therefore, Paul preached the gospel to both small and great. Acts xxvi, 22. We must do likewise in our day, and the children that do not receive and obey this gospel cannot be saved. Christ brings a reward to them that fear him, whether small or great, but will destroy all others. Rev. xi, 18. Small and great will receive the mark of the beast, and consequently drink the wine of the wrath of God. Rev. xiii, 16; xiv, 10. Small and great, who have feared and served God upon earth, will surround the throne in Heaven, and praise the Lord God omnipotent, with a voice as mighty thunderings.

Finally, small and great will be summoned to Judgment in the resurrection of the unjust, and meet their lawful doom in the lake of fire, according to their works. This is the second death. Rev. xx, 12–14.

Spirit of the living God, give us light from the heavenly temple, that every reader may ponder well these awfully solemn truths, and comply with the conditions of eternal salvation.

JOHN MATTESON.