There was once a very great king who commanded a magnificent army. And the strangest thing about the army was that the king insisted that young children should be admitted to it. His officers sometimes objected, but that did little good. “The children cannot carry muskets,” said they. But the king answered this objection by furnishing them with powerful pistols.
“They cannot march with the soldiers,” insisted the officers. “Well,” answered the king, “then they shall have carriages and horses.”
“They will not be able to stand the exposure,” urged the officers. “Why,” replied their master, “with all my soldiers to protect them, they will be in the safest place in the world for them.”
“But they will make many blunders, and our foes will laugh at us.” “The enemy will not laugh,” answered the king, “when my children fire their pistols.”
“But they will hinder the army and confuse all our maneuvers.” On the contrary, the king insisted, “their songs will cheer my soldiers, and make them fight more bravely and march more swiftly.”
“But the children cannot understand the commands of the officers,” persisted these older soldiers. “Why, my dear sirs,” said the king, “the ears of children are much sharper than those of their elders, and when well taught they are quick to obey. Indeed, my officers,” said this great king, “the children love me, and I love them. I want them in my army, and I must have them, to fight for me, and be protected by me and you.”
This great king, children, is Jesus Christ, and the army is his church.