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illustrations, and with direct specification, now upon one point, and
again upon another. I feel, indeed, that we have much to learn. We are
ignorant in regard to many things.
“In writing and speaking upon the life of John the Baptist and the
life of Christ, I have tried to present that which has been presented to
me in regard to the education of our youth. We are under obligation
to God to study this subject candidly; for it is worthy of close, critical
examination upon every side....
“Those who claim to know the truth and understand the great work
to be done for this time, are to consecrate themselves to God, soul,
body, and spirit. In heart, in dress, in language, in every respect, they
are to be separate from the fashions and practices of the world. They
are to be a peculiar and holy people. It is not their dress that makes
them peculiar; but because they are a peculiar and holy people, they
cannot carry the marks of likeness to the world.
“Many who suppose they are going to heaven, are blindfolded by
the world. Their ideas of what constitutes a religious education and
religious discipline are vague, resting only on probabilities. There
are many who have no intelligent hope, and are running great risk
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in practising the very things which Jesus has taught that they should
not do, in eating, drinking, and dressing, binding themselves up with
the world in a variety of ways. They have yet to learn the serious
lessons so essential to growth in spirituality, to come out from the
world and be separate. The heart is divided; the carnal mind craves
conformity, similarity to the world in so many ways that the mark of
distinction from the world is scarcely distinguishable. Money, God’s
money, is expended in order to make an appearance after the world’s
customs; the religious experience is contaminated with worldliness;
and the evidence of discipleship—Christ’s likeness in self-denial and
cross-bearing—is not discernible by the world or by the universe of
heaven....
“Never can the proper education be given to the youth in this
country, or any other country, unless they are separated a wide distance
from the cities. The customs and practices in the cities unfit the minds
of the youth for the entrance of truth. The liquor-drinking, the smoking
and gambling, the horse-racing, the theater-going, the great importance
placed upon holidays,—all are a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon
idol altars....