356
Child Guidance
The imagination must be positively and persistently controlled if
the passions and affections are made subject to reason, conscience,
and character....
Unless you restrain your thoughts, your reading, and your words,
your imagination will become hopelessly diseased. Read your Bible
attentively, prayerfully, and be guided by its teachings. This is your
safety
Close Senses Against Evil—Those who would have that wisdom
which is from God must become fools in the sinful knowledge of this
age in order to be wise. They should shut their eyes that they may
see and learn no evil. They should close their ears lest they hear that
which is evil, and obtain that knowledge which would stain their purity
of thoughts and acts, and guard their tongues lest they utter corrupt
communications and guile be found in their mouths
Avoid reading and seeing things which will suggest impure
thoughts. Cultivate the moral and intellectual powers
Avoid Inactivity Coupled With Excessive Study—Excessive
study, by increasing the flow of blood to the brain, creates morbid
excitability that tends to lessen the power of self-control and too often
gives sway to impulse or caprice. Thus the door is opened to impurity.
[466]
The misuse or nonuse of the physical powers is largely responsible
for the tide of corruption that is overspreading the world. “Pride,
fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness” are as deadly foes to
human progress in this generation as when they led to the destruction
of Sodom.
Teachers should understand these things and should instruct their
pupils in these lines. Teach the students that right living depends
on right thinking, and that physical activity is essential to purity of
thought
No Time for Vacillation—Purity of life and a character molded
after the divine Pattern are not obtained without earnest effort and fixed
principles. A vacillating person will not succeed in attaining Christian
perfection. Such will be weighed in the balances and found wanting.
Like a roaring lion, Satan is seeking for his prey. He tries his wiles
4
Testimonies For The Church 2:561-563
.
5
An Appeal to Mothers, 31
.
6
Testimonies For The Church 2:410
.
7
Education, 209
.