Chapter 8—Pride and Vain Thoughts
Dear Children P and Q,
You are deceived in regard to yourselves. You are not Christians.
To be true Christians is to be Christlike. You are far from the mark in
this respect; but I hope that you will not be deceived until it is too late
for you to form characters for heaven.
Your example has not been good. You have not come to the point
to obey the words of Christ: “If any man will come after Me, let
him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Here are
lessons that you have not learned. The denial of self has not been
a part of your education. You have neglected to study the words of
life. “Search the Scriptures,” said the heavenly Teacher. He knew that
this was necessary for all in order for them to become Christ’s true
followers. You love to read storybooks, but do not find the word of
God interesting. You should restrict your reading to the word of God
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and to books that are of a spiritual and useful character. In so doing
you will close a door against temptation, and you will be blessed.
Had you improved the light that has been given in Battle Creek,
you would now be far in advance of what you are in the divine life.
Both of you are vain and proud. You have not felt that you must give
an account of your stewardship. You are accountable to God for all
your privileges and for all the means which pass through your hands.
You have sought your own pleasure and selfish gratification at the
expense of conscience and the approval of God. You do not act like
servants of Christ, who are responsible to the Saviour who has bought
you with His own precious blood. “Know ye not, that to whom ye
yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But
God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed
from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
You are professedly the servants of Christ. Do you then yield
to Him ready and willing obedience? Do you earnestly inquire how
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