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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 1
must be kept under the control of the will and the mind not allowed to
wander or become distracted with a variety of subjects at a time, being
thorough in none.
Difficulties will be met in all studies, but never cease through dis-
couragement. Search, study, and pray; face every difficulty manfully
and vigorously; call the power of will and the grace of patience to your
aid, and then dig more earnestly till the gem of truth lies before you,
plain and beautiful, all the more precious because of the difficulties
involved in finding it.
Do not, then, continually dwell upon this one point, concentrating
all the energies of the mind upon it, constantly urging it upon the
attention of others, but take another subject, and carefully examine
that. Thus mystery after mystery will be unfolded to your compre-
hension. Two valuable victories will be gained by this course. You
have not only secured useful knowledge, but the exercise of the mind
has increased mental strength and power. The key found to unlock
one mystery may develop also other precious gems of knowledge
heretofore undiscovered—
Testimonies for the Church 4:414
(1880).
[101]
The Law of the Mind—It is a law of the mind that it will narrow or
expand to the dimensions of the things with which it becomes familiar.
The mental powers will surely become contracted and will lose their
ability to grasp the deep meanings of the Word of God unless they are
put vigorously and persistently to the task of searching for truth. The
mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the
subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture, and spiritual
things with spiritual. Go below the surface; the richest treasures of
thought are waiting for the skillful and diligent student.—
The Review
and Herald, July 17, 1888
. (
Messages to Young People, 262
.)
Call Latent Powers to Action—In the common walks of life
there is many a toiler patiently treading the round of his daily tasks,
unconscious of latent powers that, roused to action, would place him
among the world’s great leaders. The touch of a skillful hand is needed
to arouse and develop those dormant faculties. It was such men whom
Jesus connected with Himself, and He gave them the advantages of
three years’ training under His own care. No course of study in the
schools of the rabbis or the halls of philosophy could have equaled this
in value.—
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 511
(1913).