"He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." To receive a child
in the name of God is to receive God himself. How to receive him? As
alone he can be received,--by knowing him as he is. To know him is to
have him in us. And that we may know him, let us now receive this
revelation of him, in the words of our Lord himself. Here is the
argument of highest import founded upon the teaching of our master in
the utterance before us.

God is represented in Jesus, for that God is like Jesus: Jesus is
represented in the child, for that Jesus is like the child. Therefore
God is represented in the child, for that he is like the child. God is
child-like. In the true vision of this fact lies the receiving of God
in the child.

Having reached this point, I have nothing more to do with the argument;
for if the Lord meant this--that is, if this be a truth, he that is
able to receive it will receive it: he that hath ears to hear it will
hear it. For our Lord's arguments are for the presentation of the
truth, and the truth carries its own conviction to him who is able to
receive it.

But the word of one who has seen this truth may help the dawn of a like
perception in those who keep their faces turned towards the east and
its aurora; for men may have eyes, and, seeing dimly, want to see more.
Therefore let us brood a little over the idea itself, and see whether
it will not come forth so as to commend itself to that spirit, which,
one with the human spirit where it dwells, searches the deep things of
God. For, although the true heart may at first be shocked at the truth,
as Peter was shocked when he said, "That be far from thee, Lord," yet
will it, after a season, receive it and rejoice in it.