The Power of Children in the Last Times

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must stem from the Spirit of GOD / thus I have taken the trouble to record it for posterity / and wished to present it movingly / especially since we have before us the example of the children of that time in Jerusalem / who cried Hosanna in the temple / concerning which CHRIST gave testimony / that such a thing was divine / whereas one might rather have concluded / that the children then were merely imitating / what they had seen and heard from the elders / who went before and followed after them / if the words of CHRIST did not convince us otherwise / as He declares / that such crying of children had already been foretold by the prophet David in the eighth Psalm Psalm 8:2: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies.". How much more, then, must we view what has occurred among the Silesian children The "Silesian Children’s Prayer" (Kinderbeten) was a 1707-1708 movement where thousands of children gathered in fields to pray, often in defiance of local authorities. with such eyes / seeing it happened in so many different places / and in such great numbers / and with the harmony of the good Spirit / and indeed / since the children did not have the parents as an example to follow

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follow before them / but rather the parents—influenced by those who should have promoted the work rather than hindered it—opposed the children / kept them from it / and in part treated them harshly / though they overcame all opposition / and continued in their fervent prayer / so that such a history is to be regarded as a great sign of the approaching coming of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.

Because I believe / that Your Excellence The author is addressing a high-ranking patron, likely a nobleman or government official who supported the Pietist cause. loves the coming and appearance of JESUS CHRIST along with all the children of GOD / I have wished to manifest somewhat my thankful heart through this treatise original: "Tractat" and its dedication / for the many benefits / for which I am indebted to Your Excellence / and thereby testify / that I have constantly kept you in my memory / and prayer / even in my absence. May the LORD our GOD ground Your Excellence ever more and more in His holy knowl-