Chapter 24—The Holy Spirit in the Schools
I ask you who are living at the very heart of the work to review
the experience of years, and see if the “well done” can truthfully be
spoken to you. I ask the teachers in the school to consider carefully,
prayerfully, have you individually watched for your own soul as one
who is cooperating with God for its purification from all sin and for
its entire sanctification unto God? Can you by precept and example
teach the youth sanctification, not devotion to the arch deceiver, but
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sanctification through the truth, unto holiness, obedience to God?
Have you not been afraid of the Holy Spirit? At times it has come
with all-pervading influence into the school at Battle Creek, and into
the schools at other localities. Did you recognize it? Did you accord it
the honor due to a heavenly messenger? When the Spirit seemed to be
striving with the youth, did you say, Let us put aside all study; for it is
evident that we have among us a heavenly guest? Let us give praise
and honor to God. Did you, with contrite hearts, bow in prayer with
your students, pleading that you might receive the blessing which the
Lord was presenting to you? The Great Teacher himself was among
you. How did you honor him? Was he a stranger to some of the
educators? Was there need to send for some one of supposed authority
to welcome or repel this messenger from heaven? Though unseen, his
presence was among you. But was not the thought expressed that in
school the time ought to be given to study, and that there was a time for
everything, as if the hours devoted to common study were too precious
to be given up for the working of the heavenly messenger?
If you have in this way restricted and repulsed the Holy Spirit of
God, I entreat you to repent of it as quickly as possible. If any of the
educators have not opened the door of their own hearts to the Spirit of
God, but closed and padlocked it, I urge you to unlock the door, and
pray with earnestness, “Abide with me.” When the Holy Spirit reveals
his presence in your schoolroom, tell your students, The Lord signifies
that he has for us today a lesson of heavenly import, of more value
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