Basic HTML Version
360
Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
an entire neighborhood or community, and their pernicious influence
will endanger all who are brought in contact with them in school
capacity. Your children are corrupt in body and in mind. Vice has
placed its marks upon your elder children. They are tainted, deeply
tainted, with sin. The animal propensities predominate, while the
moral and intellectual faculties are very weak. The baser passions
have gained strength by exercise, while conscience has become hard-
ened and seared. This is the influence which vice will have upon the
mental powers. Those who give themselves up to work the ruin of
their own bodies and minds do not stop here. Eventually they will
be found ready for crime in almost any form, for their consciences
are seared. Parents have not been half aroused to realize their re-
sponsibility in becoming parents. They are remiss in their duty.
They do not teach their children the sinfulness of these dangerous,
virtue-destroying habits. Until parents arouse, there is no hope for
their children.
I might mention the cases of many others, but will forbear, except
[407]
in a few instances. J is a dangerous associate. He is a subject of this
vice. His influence is bad. The grace of God has no influence upon
his heart. He has a good intellect, and his father has trusted much
to this to balance him; but mental power alone is not a guarantee
of virtuous superiority. The absence of religious principle makes
him corrupt at heart and sly in his wrongdoing. His influence is
pernicious everywhere. He is infidel in his principles and glories in
his skepticism. When with those of his own age, or those younger
than himself, he talks knowingly of religious things and jests and
sneers at truth and the Bible. This pretended knowledge has an
influence to corrupt minds and lead young men to feel ashamed of
the truth. Such companions should be wholly avoided, for this is
the only sure course of safety. Young girls are enamored with the
society of this young man; even some who profess to be Christians
prefer such society.
K is a boy who can be molded if surrounded by correct influences.
He needs a right example. If the young who profess Christ would
honor Him in their lives, they could exert an influence which would
counteract the pernicious influence of such youth as J. But the young
generally have no more religion than those who have never named
the name of Christ. They do not depart from iniquity. A smart,