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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
that will increase day by day as they follow on to know the Lord and
to make Him known. Their prayers will become earnest, for they will
have some definite object for which to pray.
In some countries parents are compelled by law to send their
children to school. In these countries, in localities where there is a
church, schools should be established if there are no more than six
children to attend. Work as if you were working for your life to save
the children from being drowned in the polluting, corrupting influences
of the world.
We are far behind our duty in this important matter. In many places
schools should have been in operation years ago. Many localities
would thus have had representatives of the truth who would have given
character to the work of the Lord. Instead of centering so many large
buildings in a few places, schools should have been established in
many localities.
Let these schools now be started under wise direction, that the
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children and youth may be educated in their own churches. It is a
grievous offense to God that there has been so great neglect in this line
when Providence has so abundantly supplied us with facilities with
which to work. But though in the past we have come short of doing
what we might have done for the youth and children, let us now repent
and redeem the time. The Lord says: “Though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good
of the land.”
Isaiah 1:18, 19
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The Character of Church Schools and of Their Teachers
The character of the work done in our church schools should be of
the very highest order. Jesus Christ, the Restorer, is the only remedy
for a wrong education, and the lessons taught in His word should
ever be kept before the youth in the most attractive form. The school
discipline should supplement the home training, and both at home and
at school simplicity and godliness should be maintained. Men and
women will be found who have talent to work in these small schools,
but who cannot work to advantage in the larger ones. As they practice
the Bible lessons they will themselves receive an education of the
highest value.