Chapter 32—Infatuation and Blind Love
[
SeeSection V, “Life’s Energizing Force.”
]
Courtship—Good Common Sense Needed—The youth trust al-
together too much to impulse. They should not give themselves away
too easily or be captivated too readily by the winning exterior of the
lover. Courtship, as carried on in this age, is a scheme of deception
and hypocrisy, with which the enemy of souls has far more to do than
the Lord. Good common sense is needed here if anywhere; but the fact
is, it has little to do in the matter.—
The Review and Herald, January
26, 1886
. (
Messages to Young People, 450
.)
Noblest Traits to Be Developed—The ideas of courtship have
their foundation in erroneous ideas concerning marriage. They follow
impulse and blind passion. The courtship is carried on in a spirit
of flirtation. The parties frequently violate the rules of modesty and
reserve and are guilty of indiscretion, if they do not break the law
of God. The high, noble, lofty design of God in the institution of
marriage is not discerned; therefore the purest affections of the heart,
the noblest traits of character, are not developed.—
Manuscript 4a,
1885.
(.)
[296]
Pure Affection More Heavenly Than Earthly—Not one word
should be spoken, not one action performed, that you would not be
willing the holy angels should look upon and register in the books
above. You should have an eye single to the glory of God. The heart
should have only pure, sanctioned affection, worthy of the followers
of Jesus Christ, exalting in its nature, and more heavenly than earthly.
Anything different from this is debasing, degrading in courtship; and
marriage cannot be holy and honorable in the sight of a pure and holy
God unless it is after the exalted Scriptural principle.—
Manuscript
4a, 1885.
(.)
Danger of Late Hours—The habit of sitting up late at night is
customary; but it is not pleasing to God, even if you are both Christians.
These untimely hours injure health, unfit the mind for the next day’s
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