608 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVIII.
harshfeelingtowardsthe children,but they manifesteda
holyzealintheirLord'sservice,thatHe mightnotbepressed
by thecrowds.Our own interestmust be givenup wherean
injuryisthreatenedtoGod. But we may understandthe
mysterytobe,thattheydesiredtheJewishpeopletobefirst
savedofwhom theywereaccordingtotheflesh.
They knew indeedthe mystery,thatto both nationsthe
callwas tobe made, (fortheyentreatedfortheCanaanitish
woman,)but perhapstheywere stillignorantof theorder.
It follows,But Jesuscalledthem untoHim, and said,Suffer
littlechildren,fyc.One ageisnotpreferredtoanother,else
itwere hurtfulto grow up. But why doesHe saythat
childrenarefitterforthekingdom ofheaven? Itisbecause
theyare ignorantof guile,are incapableof theft,darenot
returna blow,are unconsciousof lust,have no desirefor
wealth,honours,or ambition.But to be ignorantof these
thingsisnotvirtue,we must alsodespisethem. For virtue
consistsnot inourinabilitytosin,butinourunwillingness.
Childhoodthen isnotmeant here,but thatgoodnesswhich
rivalsthe simplicityof childhood.BEDE. Hence ourLord
pointedlysays,ofsuch,not "of these,"to shew thattocha
racter,nottoage,isthekingdom given,and tosuchashave
a childlikeinnocenceand simplicityisthe promiseofthe
reward. AMBROSE. Lastly,ourSaviourexpressedthiswhen
He said,VerilyI say untoyou,Whosoeverwillnotreceive
thekingdomof God as a littlechild,fyc.What childwere
Isai.9,6.Christ'sApostlestoimitatebut Him ofwhom Esaiasspeaks,
iPet. Untousa Childisgiven? Who when He was reviled,reviled
' ' notagain. So thatthereisinchildhooda certainvenerable
Basil.in antiquity,and in oldagea childlikeinnocence.BASIL.We
sha" receivethe kingdom of God as a childifwe aredis
posed towardsour Lord'steachingas a childunderin
struction,nevercontradictingnordisputingwithhismasters,
buttrustfullyand teachablyimbibinglearning.THEOPHYL.
The wisemen of theGentilesthereforewho seekforwisdom
ina mystery,which isthekingdom ofGod, and willnotre
ceivethiswithoutthe evidenceof logicalproof,arerightly
shutoutfromthiskingdom.