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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
Religion will prove to the believer a comforter, a sure guide to the
Fountain of true happiness. The young should study the word of God
and give themselves to meditation and prayer, and they will find that
their spare moments cannot be better employed. Young friends, you
should take time to prove your own selves, whether you are in the love
of God. Be diligent to make your calling and election sure. It depends
upon your own course of action whether you secure to yourselves the
better life.
Wisdom’s “ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are
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peace.” The future abode of the righteous and their everlasting reward
are high and ennobling themes for the young to contemplate. Dwell
upon the marvelous plan of salvation, the great sacrifice made by the
King of glory that you might be elevated through the merits of His
blood and by obedience finally be exalted to the throne of Christ. This
subject should engage the noblest contemplation of the mind. To be
brought into favor with God—what a privilege! To commune with
Him—what can more elevate, refine, and exalt us above the frivolous
pleasures of earth? To have our corrupt natures renovated by grace,
our lustful appetites and animal propensities in subjection, to stand
forth with noble, moral independence, achieving victories every day,
will give peace of conscience which can arise alone from rightdoing.
Young friends, I saw that with such employment and diversion as
this you might be happy. But the reason why you are restless is, you do
not seek to the only true source for happiness. You are ever trying to
find out of Christ that enjoyment which is found only in Him. In Him
are no disappointed hopes. Prayer, oh, how is this precious privilege
neglected! The reading of the word of God prepares the mind for
prayer. One of the greatest reasons why you have so little disposition
to draw nearer to God by prayer is, you have unfitted yourselves for
this sacred work by reading fascinating stories which have excited the
imagination and aroused unholy passions. The word of God becomes
distasteful, the hour of prayer is forgotten. Prayer is the strength of the
Christian. When alone he is not alone; he feels the presence of One
who has said: “Lo, I am with you alway.”
The young want just what they have not; namely, religion. Nothing
can take the place of this. Profession alone is nothing. Names are
registered upon the church books upon earth, but not in the book of
life. I saw that there is not one in twenty of the youth who knows