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God’s Word a Treasure House
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system, for the foundation of all right education is a knowledge of
God. Used as a textbook in our schools, the Bible will do for mind
and morals what cannot be done by books of science and philosophy.
As a book to discipline and strengthen the intellect, to ennoble,
purify, and refine the character, it is without a rival.
God cares for us as intelligent beings, and He has given us His
word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Its teachings have
a vital bearing upon our prosperity in all the relations of life. Even in
our temporal affairs it will be a wiser guide than any other counselor.
Its divine instruction points the only way to true success. There is no
social position, no phase of human experience, for which the study
of the Bible is not an essential preparation.
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Finite Wisdom
But the mere reading of the word will not accomplish the result
designed of heaven; it must be studied, and cherished in the heart.
The Bible has not received the close attention it deserves. It has not
been honored above every other book in the education of children
and youth. Students devote years to acquiring an education. They
study different authors and become acquainted with science and
philosophy through books containing the results of human research;
but the Book that comes from the divine Teacher has, to a great
extent, been neglected. Its value is not discerned; its treasures
remain hidden.
An education of this character is defective. Who and what are
these men of learning, that the minds and characters of the young
should be molded by their ideas? They may publish with pen and
voice the best results of their reasoning; but they grasp only an item
of the work of God, and in their shortsightedness, calling it science,
they exalt it above the God of science.
Man is finite; there is no light in his wisdom. His unaided reason
can explain nothing in the deep things of God, nor can he understand
the spiritual lessons that God has placed in the material world. But
reason is a gift of God, and His Spirit will aid those who are willing
to be taught. Man’s words, if of any value, echo the words of God.
In the education of youth they should never take the place of the
divine word.