No! By little children, St. John means here children in age,--of
course CHRISTIAN children and young people, for he was writing only
to Christians. He speaks to those who have been christened, and
brought up, more or less, as christened children should be. But, no
doubt, when he says little children, he means also all Christian
people, whether they be young or old, whose souls are still young,
and weak, and unlearned. All, however old they may be, who have not
been confirmed--I do not merely mean confirmed by the bishop, but
confirmed by God's grace,--all those who have not yet come to a full
knowledge of their own sins,--all who have not yet been converted,
and turned to God with their whole hearts and wills, who have not
yet made their full choice between God and sin,--all who have not
yet fought for themselves the battle which no man or angel can fight
for them--I mean the battle between their selfishness and their
duty--the battle between their love of pleasure and their fear of
sin--the battle, in short, between the devil and his temptations to
darkness and shame, and God and His promises of light, and strength,
and glory,--all who have not been converted to God, to them St. John
speaks as little children--people who are not yet strong enough to
stand alone, and do their duty on God's side against sin, the world,
and the devil.
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