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Testimonies for the Church Volume 8
prying questions, He did not gratify. All such questionings He made
the occasion for solemn, earnest, vital appeals. To those who were
so eager to pluck from the tree of knowledge, He offered the fruit of
the tree of life. They found every avenue closed, except the narrow
way that leads to God. Every fountain was sealed, save the fountain of
eternal life.
Our Saviour did not encourage any to attend the rabbinical schools
of His day for the reason that their minds would be corrupted with the
continually repeated, “They say,” or, “It has been said.” Why, then,
should we accept the unstable words of men as exalted wisdom, when
a greater, a certain wisdom is at our command?
That which I have seen of eternal things, and that which I have
seen of the weakness of men, as God has presented it before me, has
deeply impressed my mind and influenced my life and character. I see
nothing wherein man should be exalted or praised or glorified. I see
no reason why the opinions of worldly-wise men should be trusted in
and exalted. How can those who are destitute of divine enlightenment
have correct ideas of God’s plans and ways?
I am willing to be taught by Him who created the heavens and the
earth, by Him who set the stars in their order in the firmament and
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appointed the sun and the moon to do their work. I need not go to
infidel authors. I choose to be taught of God.
Heart Education
It is right for the youth to feel that they must reach the highest de-
velopment of their mental powers. We would not restrict the education
to which God has set no limit. But our attainments will avail nothing if
not put to use for the honor of God and the good of humanity. Unless
our knowledge is a steppingstone to the accomplishment of the highest
purposes, it is worthless.
What we need is knowledge that will strengthen mind and soul,
that will make us better men and women.
Heart education is of more importance than the education gained
from books. It is well, even essential, to obtain a knowledge of the
world in which we live; but if we leave eternity out of our reckoning,
we shall make a failure from which we can never recover.