William Baxter Become as Little Children (1854)

 

T H E

L A D I E S '   R E P O S I T O R Y .
O C T O B E R,   1 8 5 4 .

 

B E C O M E   A S   L I T T L E   C H I L D R E N .
BY REV. WILLIAM BAXTER.
WHEN here the pure and sinless One
    On infant innocency smiled,
And said, "He who would enter heaven
    Must first be like a little child."

Behold the infant, when its heart
    As yet by sin is undefiled,
And turn from all thy sins away,
    And be as is the little child!

Some form of fear presents itself;
    Its little heart is beating wild;
It turns and sees its father near--
    Its fears all flee: be like that child.

Near to a precipice a flower
    May have the infant's feet beguiled;
The mother calls--it turns--is saved:
    When pleasure lures, be like that child.

When it implores some earthly good,
    Listen to its petition mild
Yet confident; and learn from this
    To pray as prays that little child.

Hearing an infant's questioning,
    Hast thou not wondered oft and smiled
To mark how readily it trusts
    What "father says!" be like that child.

Learn from the child, O man! and find
    That children not in vain are given;
Not only do they gladden earth,
    They also teach the way to heaven.

 

[The Ladies' Repository 14 (October 1854): 462.]

ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION

      William Baxter's "Become as Little Children" was first published in The Ladies' Repository: A Monthly Periodical Devoted to Literature and Religion, Vol. 14, No. 10, October 1854, p. 462. This volume, edited by D. W. Clark, was published in Cincinnati by L. Swormstedt and A. Poe and in New York by T. Carlton and Z. Phillips.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 17 April 2000.
Updated 28 June 2003.

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