Chapter 30—Fragments
Those who instruct children should avoid tedious remarks. Short
remarks and to the point will have a happy influence. If much is to
be said, make up for briefness by frequency. A few words of interest
now and then will be more beneficial than to have it all at once. Long
speeches burden the small minds of children. Too much talk will lead
them to loathe even spiritual instruction, just as overeating burdens the
stomach and lessens the appetite, leading even to a loathing of food.
The minds of the people may be glutted with too much speechifying.
Labor for the church, but especially for the youth, should be line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Give minds
time to digest the truths you feed them. Children must be drawn toward
heaven, not rashly, but very gently.—
Testimonies for the Church 2:420
.
The student of the Sabbath-school should feel as thoroughly in
earnest to become intelligent in the knowledge of the Scriptures as to
excel in the study of the sciences. If either is neglected, it should be
the lessons of the six days. The injunction of our Saviour should be
religiously regarded by every man, woman, and child who professes
[108]
His name. Teachers in the Sabbath-school have a missionary field
given them to teach the Scriptures, not parrot-like, to repeat over that
which they have taken no pains to understand. “They are they which
testify of Me,”—the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life
are centered. If teachers are not imbued with the spirit of truth, and
care not for the knowledge of what is revealed in the Word of God,
how can they present the truth in an attractive light to those under their
charge? ...
The student of the Sabbath-school should be in earnest, should
dig deep and search with the greatest care for the precious gems of
truth contained in the weekly lessons. The privileges and opportunities
which they now have of becoming intelligent in regard to the Scriptures
should not be neglected. God would have those who profess to be
His followers thoroughly furnished with proof of the doctrines of His
Word. When and where can this be better obtained than in youth
89