14
Child Guidance
which God has placed in their hands, to so mold the characters of
their children that they will have the moral stamina to resist the many
temptations that ensnare the feet of youth
Co-operation With God Is Necessary—Christ did not ask His
Father to take the disciples out of the world, but to keep them from
the evil in the world, to keep them from yielding to the temptations
which they would meet on every hand. This prayer fathers and mothers
should offer for their children. But shall they plead with God, and then
leave their children to do as they please? God cannot keep children
from evil if the parents do not co-operate with Him. Bravely and
cheerfully parents should take up their work, carrying it forward with
unwearying endeavor
If parents would feel that they are never released from their burden
of educating and training their children for God, if they would do their
work in faith, co-operating with God by earnest prayer and work, they
would be successful in bringing their children to the Saviour
How One Couple Met Their Responsibilities—An angel from
heaven came to instruct Zacharias and Elizabeth as to how they should
train and educate their child, so as to work in harmony with God in
preparing a messenger to announce the coming of Christ. As parents
[23]
they were to faithfully co-operate with God in forming such a character
in John as would fit him to perform the part God had assigned him as
a competent worker.
John was the son of their old age, he was a child of miracle, and
the parents might have reasoned that he had a special work to do for
the Lord and the Lord would take care of him. But the parents did not
thus reason; they moved to a retired place in the country, where their
son would not be exposed to the temptations of city life, or induced to
depart from the counsel and instruction which they as parents would
give him. They acted their part in developing a character in the child
that would in every way meet the purpose for which God had designed
his life.... They sacredly fulfilled their obligation
Regard Children as a Trust—Parents are to look upon their chil-
dren as entrusted to them of God to be educated for the family above.
5
Pacific Health Journal, April, 1890
.
6
The Review and Herald, July 9, 1901
.
7
The Signs of the Times, April 9, 1896
.
8
The Signs of the Times, April 16, 1896
.