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Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students
depth of meaning, that is inexhaustible. Encourage the children and
youth to seek out its treasures, both of thought and of expression.
As the beauty of these precious things attracts their minds, a
softening, subduing power will touch their hearts. They will be
drawn to Him who has thus revealed Himself to them. And there are
few who will not desire to know more of His works and ways.
The Victory of Faith
There is much to be learned by the children and youth in regard to
early piety. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our
faith,”
1 John 5:4
. That faith must not be led to embrace superstitious,
fictitious sentiments. Leave out such ideas from your teaching, and
give the children and youth the same kind of instruction that Christ
gave—lessons of faith in a plain “Thus saith the Lord.”
The work of conquering evil is to be done through faith. Those
who go into the battlefield will find that they must put on the whole
armor of God. The shield of faith will be their defense and will
enable them to be more than conquerors. Nothing else will avail
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but this—faith in the Lord of hosts, and obedience to His orders.
Vast armies furnished with every other facility will avail nothing in
the last great conflict. Without faith, an angel host could not help.
Living faith alone will make them invincible and enable them to
stand in the evil day, steadfast, unmovable, holding the beginning of
their confidence firm unto the end.
Young men and women who do not give evidence that the truth
has begun its sanctifying work upon their hearts will make a failure in
attempting to teach any church school. None are to choose the easiest
place and seek to understand only that which pleases of the word
of God, obeying those things which harmonize with their desires,
and excusing themselves from accepting that which cuts across
inclination and calls for self-denial and cross-bearing. Especially
should teachers of the children and youth be learners of the way of
obedience. True faith asks the Lord, “What wilt Thou have me to
do?” and when the way is marked out by the Master, faith is ready
to do His will, at whatever hardship or sacrifice.
Teachers, study the simplicity of the Scriptures, so that you may
learn to make their truths plain to youthful minds. Your earnest