98
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work
upon his sympathy and love; for he traces from cause to effect. The
one who is most easily tempted, and is most inclined to err, is the
special object of his solicitude.
Every parent and every teacher should cherish the attributes of Him
who makes the cause of the afflicted, the suffering, and the tempted, his
own. He should be one who can have “compassion on the ignorant, and
on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed
[121]
with infirmity.” Jesus treats us far better than we deserve; and as he has
treated us, so we are to treat others. The course of no parent or teacher
is justifiable if it is unlike that which under similar circumstances the
Saviour would pursue.—
Education, 277-295
.
Prayerful Study
We should exert all the powers of the mind in the study of the
Scriptures, and should task the understanding to comprehend, as far
as mortals can, the deep things of God; yet we must not forget that
the docility and submission of a child is the true spirit of the learner.
Scriptural difficulties can never be mastered by the same methods that
are employed in grappling with philosophical problems. We should
not engage in the study of the Bible with that self-reliance with which
so many enter the domains of science, but with a prayerful dependence
upon God, and a sincere desire to learn his will. We must come with a
humble and teachable spirit to obtain knowledge from the great I AM.
Otherwise, evil angels will so blind our minds and harden our hearts
that we shall not be impressed by the truth.
Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mys-
tery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction
to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why
many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is,
they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practise. An
understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of
intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the
[122]
earnest longing after righteousness.
The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit
alone can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be un-
derstood, or prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension.
It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend