bid them not, to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 19. 14). In like manner did he often encourage childhood piety and emphasize the importance of an early consecration to God.

A second reason for early piety is that it gives more time for the Christian life-work. A whole life is none too long to fulfill our mission in life. It seems a shame to spend the best of life in sin, offer God the remnant, and then ask for a home in glory.

A third reason for early piety is found in the danger of delay. When the habits of sin are once formed, it is very difficult to break away from them. It is a thousand times better never to learn to do evil than to let the chains of evil habit bind us, for it is so very hard ever to break them. And if by the grace and help of God they are broken they mar our life and leave us with a weakness of character and mental power caused by these evil habits of early life.

When once our associations are formed in early life, it is almost impossible to break away from them, and the chances are that if a person does not become a Christian in early life, he never will. The great majority of people who are in the churches to-day entered the same in childhood.

It is certainly a fearful mistake for Christians to suppose it is their duty to discourage early piety in children, and to oppose their becoming

members of the church. These very things are often done by good people, who suppose that little children cannot understand religious matters, and may later in life regret their actions. Children early in life, with the advantages of the Sunday school and church, know more about religion than most people give them credit for knowing. Not only do they know, but they are intensely anxious to do what is required of them. As a rule, if they are discouraged and prevented making a religious profession and uniting with the church, they become so discouraged that they lose interest in their soul's salvation and never after manifest any interest in the religious life. To those who so oppose early piety and church membership the Lord Jesus says, "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" (Matt. 18. 6). Some one has well said that "the most important ten years of human life is from five to fifteen years of age. The vast majority of those who pass twenty irreligious are never converted at all."

These days time-locks are very common; they are found in almost every bank in the land, and, more than that, they are on most every unsaved heart in the land. Almost all men expect at some time to open their hearts to Christ and seek salvation, but they fix the time in the near or distant future. For the time being their hearts are

locked against all good influence, and no power can enter until the time indicated by the timelocks in their hearts.

In childhood Christ seeks admission to the hearts of many, but they lock their hearts against him by paternal advice until they are old enough to know what they are doing, so they set the time-lock to be opened at early manhood.

Christ comes to some at early manhood and finds them locked, to be opened after their wild oats are sown. They must see the pleasures and sports of the world first. They cannot afford to settle down and be pious until they see the world and have some fun.

Christ comes to some in middle life and finds their hearts locked with a time-lock set to be opened when they get a good start in life and accumulate wealth. They are too busy with business and family cares to be Christians until they are in circumstances of comfort and leisure.

Christ comes to some in the decline of life and finds their hearts locked with the time-lock set to be opened just before death. When the children are all educated and start out into life, then they will find leisure to open their hearts and accept salvation. To some the time comes that death suddenly calls them into eternity with hearts locked against Christ. Others in the last hours open their hearts to Christ, offer the tag end of life to God, and ask to be admitted to eternal happiness.

CONVICTION OF SIN

Conviction of sin is the influence of the Holy Spirit by which we are convinced that we are sinners and in need of salvation to save us from eternal death. It is not conversion, but rather our realization of our need of that. It always precedes conversion or the new birth, and is an entirely separate and independent experience. Christ had reference to this work when he spoke of the work of the Holy Spirit, saying, "And when he is come he will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment" (John 16. 8).

Conviction of sin is sometimes an instantaneous work, and sometimes it is gradual. Sometimes it comes in answer to the prayer of self or others, and sometimes without the asking. In this respect it differs from conversion, which is never received except in answer to prayer. Conviction sometimes comes gently and sometimes in overwhelming power, but it never compels the sinner to submit to God and become a Christian. If persistently resisted, conviction often gradually disappears and the sinner is unchanged, except to become more hardened in sin. No man is ever saved by conviction of sin, and the best it can do is to show men their need of salvation, and they must come to Christ to find it. It is a great mistake for men to suppose that because they have been awakened and are intensely concerned about their souls that they

are, by such conviction of sin, made children of God. It is good to have such an interest in salvation, and if we submit to God it will lead to a happy Christian experience, but of itself it brings no peace with God.

Paul's experience forcibly illustrates the difference between conviction and conversion. He was convicted irresistibly on the highway, but he was converted in Damascus after he had spent days in prayer. When the old preacher came and prayed for him, he was converted, the scales of sin fell from his eyes, and he was made a child of God. He went forth from that hour a new man and began to preach the doctrine he had formerly condemned.

The error of supposing that conviction is conversion is a very common one. Many persons are deeply convicted of sin, but failing to make a full surrender to God, that peculiar convicting power disappears and they suppose they are converted. Conviction reveals to man his sins. Conversion cleanses the man from his sins. Men never receive conversion without being first convicted, but they are often convicted and never converted.

REPENTANCE FOR SIN

"I tell you, nay; but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13. 5). "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 1. 38).