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Testimonies for the Church Volume 6
in prayers and corresponding deeds, will come up in remembrance
before God, to be rewarded by and by.
There is a wide field of usefulness before all who will work for the
Master in caring for these children and youth who have been deprived
of the watchful guidance of parents and the subduing influence of a
Christian home. Many of them have inherited evil traits of character;
and if left to grow up in ignorance, they will drift into associations that
lead to vice and crime. These unpromising children need to be placed
in a position favorable for the formation of a right character, that they
may become children of God.
Are you who profess to be children of God acting your part in
teaching these, who so much need to be patiently taught how to come
to the Saviour? Are you acting your part as faithful servants of Christ?
Are these unformed, perhaps ill-balanced, minds cared for with that
love which Christ has manifested for us? The souls of children and
youth are in deadly peril if left to themselves. They need patient
instruction, love, and tender Christian care.
Were there no revelation to point out our duty, the very sight of our
eyes, and what we know of the inevitable working of cause and effect,
should arouse us to rescue these unfortunate ones. If the members
of the church would bring into this work the same energy and tact
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and skill that they employ in the common business relations of life, if
they would seek wisdom from God and earnestly study how to mold
these undisciplined minds, many souls that are ready to perish might
be rescued.
If parents would feel the solicitude for the salvation of their own
children that they should feel, if they would bear them in their prayers
to the throne of grace and live out their prayers, knowing that God
would co-operate with them, they might become successful workers
for children outside of their own family, and especially for those who
do not have parental counsel and guidance. The Lord calls upon every
member of the church to do his duty to these orphans.
A Christlike Work
In caring for the children we should not work from the standpoint
of duty merely, but from love, because Christ died for their salvation.
Christ has purchased these souls who need our care, and He expects