we need not now stop to consider them, nor to inquire how far even these would be exceptions if we could read the heart as God reads it.  The seeming exceptions being cases either of hypocrisy, or of very common self-deceit, we need not regard either; for they are, of course, no real objection to the truth of the general statement.  It remains true, then, generally, that the value of any character is in proportion to the existence, or to the absence, in it of the love of God.

But is there not another exception to be made for the case of children, and of very young persons?  Are they capable of loving God? and are not their earthly relations, their parents especially, put to them, as it were, in the place of God, as objects of trust, of love, of honour, of obedience, till their minds can open to comprehend the love of their Father who is in heaven?  And does not the Scripture itself, in the few places in which it seems directly to address children, content itself with directing them to obey and honour their parents?  Some notions of this sort are allowed, I believe, to serve sometimes as an excuse, when young persons are blamed for being utterly wanting in a sense of duty to God.

The passages which direct children to obey their parents, are of the same kind with those, directing slaves to obey their masters, and masters to be kind to their slaves; like those, also, which John the Baptist addressed to the soldiers and publicans:  in none of all which there is any command to love God, but merely a command to fulfil that particular duty which most arose out of the particular relation, or calling of the persons addressed.  In fact, when parents are addressed, they are directed only to do their duties to their children, just as children are directed to do theirs to their parents; in both cases alike, the common duty of parents and children to God is not dwelt upon, because that is a duty which does not belong to them as parents, or as children, but as human beings; and as such, it belongs to all alike.  In fact, the very language of St. Paul’s command to children implies this; for he says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord:  for this is right:”  right, that is, in the sight of God:  so that the very reason for which children are to discharge their earthly duties is, because that earthly duty is commanded by, or involved in, their heavenly duty; if they do not do it, they will not please God.  But it is manifest that, in this respect, there is for all of us one only law, so soon as we are able to understand it.  The moment that a child becomes capable of understanding anything about God and Christ,—­and how early that is, every parent can testify,—­that moment the duty to love God and Christ begins.  It were absurd to say, that this duty has not begun at the age of boyhood.  A boy is able to understand the force of religious motives, as well as he can that of earthly motives:  he cannot understand either, perhaps, so well as he will hereafter; but he understands both enough, for the purposes of his salvation; enough, to condemn him before God, if he neglects them; enough to make him derive the greatest benefit from faithfully observing them.