Need of Counsel and Guidance
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inquire before she yields her affections, Has my lover a mother? What
is the stamp of her character? Does he recognize his obligations to
her? Is he mindful of her wishes and happiness? If he does not respect
and honor his mother, will he manifest respect and love, kindness and
attention, toward his wife? When the novelty of marriage is over, will
he love me still? Will he be patient with my mistakes, or will he be
critical, overbearing, and dictatorial? True affection will overlook
many mistakes; love will not discern them.
Impulse Not Reliable
The youth trust altogether too much to impulse. They should not
give themselves away too easily, nor be captivated too readily by the
winning exterior of the lover. Courtship, as carried on in this age, is
a scheme of deception and hypocrisy, with which the enemy of souls
has far more to do than the Lord. Good common sense is needed here
if anywhere; but the fact is, it has little to do in the matter.
If children would be more familiar with their parents, if they would
confide in them, and unburden to them their joys and sorrows, they
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would save themselves many a future heartache. When perplexed
to know what course is right, let them lay the matter just as they
view it before their parents, and ask advice of them. Who are so
well calculated to point out their dangers as godly parents? Who can
understand their peculiar temperaments so well as they?
Children who are Christians will esteem above every earthly bless-
ing the love and approbation of their God-fearing parents. The parents
can sympathize with the children, and pray for and with them that
God will shield and guide them. Above everything else they will point
them to their never-failing Friend and Counselor, who will be touched
with the feeling of their infirmities. He who was tempted in all points
like as we are, yet without sin, knows how to succor those who are
tempted.—
The Review and Herald, January 26, 1886
.
Divine Love
In your life union your affections are to be tributary to each other’s
happiness. Each is to minister to the happiness of the other. This is
the will of God concerning you. But while you are to blend as one,