In these shrewd days, in which it has become the cleverest thing to suspect the Devil everywhere, and God nowhere, it is thought romantic to believe in the innocence of childhood. And possibly it is, if applied to the actual children, once born in the image of God, but long ago twisted into our miserable likeness by the sight of our luxuries, the contagion of our selfishness, the hearing of our lies: possibly it is, if applied to those whom the church teaches to blaspheme their own nature, to confess a false guilt, and prate of an unreal rescue from an unfelt danger. The child cannot understand the penitential strains that float from the older world around him; what have these people been about, that they have so much evil to bewail? They appear to him very worthy, and it is very strange they should speak so grievously to God, and stand before Him with a culprit air and streaming tears. 

 But if the World and Church will only learn what the child's simple presence may teach, instead of teaching what he cannot innocently learn, the truth may dawn upon them, that the child seldom requires to be led, -- only not to be misled. For childhood has a ready faith, that may be most blessedly used or most wickedly abused; a faith so open to the sense of God, that almost unspoken, and as by look of holy sympathy, it may be given; so eager, that it will seize on all the nourishment of thought within its reach; so trustful, that it feels no difficulty, and will cause you none." 

James Martineau.