Page:The Life and Works of Christopher Dock.djvu/142

130 are also the duties of the teacher to whom the children are entrusted. And as he is in this sense head of these children, so Christ is his head, according to whose command we must act. When Christ came to this world to seek and to save, he called the children to him in especial love, caressed and blessed them and promised them the kingdom of heaven. (Mark ix, 36, 37.) For this reason we will not be blessed if we are tyrannical with them, however much they must be raised in discipline and in the fear of the Lord. Further, let us consider how the Lord Jesus taught his disciples, a record of which is kept for us in St. Matth. xviii, 1-6: “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” From the quoted words of the Lord Jesus we all have enough to learn. If we would enter heaven and be happy forever we need not imagine that the way is to glare at these children or even scold and punish them if they do not show us enough honor or pay us enough compliments. Ah, no, this is not the way to the