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Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work
in the spirit of love, for the erring and impenitent. This is what Christ
would see in the Sabbath-school work.
Teachers Should Be Exemplary
The teachers should set a right example before the youth, in spirit,
in deportment, and in dress. They should be attired in plain, simple
garments; and their spirit should be as humble as a child’s, yet pure
and elevated, for they stand in the presence of God, to represent the
character of Christ to their scholars. In the spirit of devotion, with
tenderness of heart, they should look upon their charges, remembering
that Jesus said, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones;
for I say unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the
face of My Father which is in heaven.” The angels of God that behold
the face of the Father in heaven are looking upon the children and
youth, whom you, as living agents for God, are teaching the way of
salvation: Think of this, superintendents and teachers; you are in the
presence of heavenly angels, doing work the character of which will
testify to your fidelity or unfaithfulness to Christ.
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If teachers would ever bear in mind that it is the Holy Spirit that
must reveal to the soul glimpses of heavenly things, and that as they
work in the Spirit of Christ, this heavenly agent is impressing the mind
with divine truth; if they would ever realize that angels are about them,
that they are standing upon holy ground, much more efficient work
would be done in our Sabbath-schools. The teachers would not be
devoid of spiritual grace and power, for they would have a realization
of the divine presence; they would understand that they were but the
human agents through whom Christ was imparting His heavenly light.
Their labors would be instinct with earnestness and power, and they
would know that the Spirit helpeth their infirmities.
The superintendents and teachers in our Sabbath-schools must
be converted, rescued from their habitual insensibility. The precious
lessons of truth must not be taught in a tame, lifeless way; but, by
daily communion with the Lord, by a reception of the bright beams
of the Sun of Righteousness, life-giving power must be added to their
efforts to win souls to Christ. They must continually keep the mind
stayed upon Christ, that the thoughts and impulses may be of a spiritual
character, and that their manner and method of teaching may be subject