78 MORAL CONDITION OF THE CHILD 



heavenly attraction should prevail over it, while 

 yet it feels the drawings of the things of sense, 

 and is in more or less danger of conceding too 

 much to that inferior drawing." (Sheldon: 

 " System of Doctrine," 459.) 



It is only necessary to hold that sin is not ne- 

 cessitated; that any given experience may be an 

 experience in holiness, as well as to allow that in 

 the mysterious working of freedom it may be an 

 experience in sin. 



This discussion, if followed out, would lead 

 us too far off from our subject. We leave it with 

 the observation that any explanation that will sat- 

 isfy in the case of the regenerated adults will 

 also clarify the case of children. Their experi- 

 ence in sinning is no whit more universal than is 

 that of those who have passed through adult con- 

 version. It is a fair question for investigation 

 whether, in the cases of carefully trained children, 

 their record is not better than that of adult Chris- 

 tians. But our position does not demand the af- 

 firmation of this, and we leave it an open question. 

 Justly Professor Tyler has said: "Appetites are 

 old and deep-seated, rude and very strong. Man 's 

 senses are keen. Old motives, like fear or hate, 

 are always threatening revolt against the higher 

 and younger moral and religious ruling powers. 

 ... It has been a long and fearful struggle. 

 Rex regis rebellis. The king has always been in 

 rebellion against the king. The lower always ap- 

 peals from and against the higher. Ape and tiger 



