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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
appetite or the pursuit of wealth or fashion. God has placed in their
hands the precious youth, not only to be fitted for a place of usefulness
in this life but to be prepared for the heavenly courts.—
Historical
Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 209,
1886
. (
Temperance, 270
.)
Teacher’s Usefulness Depends Upon a Trained Mind—The
teacher’s usefulness depends not so much upon the actual amount
of his acquirements as upon the standard at which he aims. The true
teacher is not content with dull thoughts, and indolent mind, or a loose
memory. He constantly seeks higher attainments and better methods.
His life is one of continual growth. In the work of such a teacher
there is a freshness, a quickening power, that awakens and inspires his
pupils.—
Education, 278
(1903).
He Will Strive for the Highest Mental and Moral Excellence—
To know oneself is a great knowledge. The teacher who rightly es-
timates himself will let God mold and discipline his mind. And he
[5]
will acknowledge the source of his power.... Self-knowledge leads to
humility and to trust in God, but it does not take the place of efforts
for self-improvement. He who realizes his own deficiencies will spare
no pains to reach the highest possible standard of physical, mental,
and moral excellence. No one should have a part in the training of
youth who is satisfied with a lower standard.—
Special Testimonies
On Education, 50
, (
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 67
.
Prepares for Eternity—In all your work you must do as the hus-
bandman does in laboring for the fruits of the earth. Apparently he
throws away the seed; but, buried in the soil, the seed germinates. The
power of the living God gives it life and vitality, and there is seen “first
the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear” (
Mark 4:28
).
Study this wonderful process. Oh, there is so much to learn, so much
to understand! If we improve our minds to the utmost of our ability we
shall through the eternal ages continue to study the ways and works
of God and to know more and more of Him.—
Counsels to Parents,
Teachers, and Students, 252
(1913).
Science of Christianity and the Mind—There is a science of
Christianity to be mastered—a science as much deeper, broader, higher,
than any human science as the heavens are higher than the earth. The
mind is to be disciplined, educated, trained; for men are to do service
for God in ways that are not in harmony with inborn inclination. Often