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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
heart the mouth speaketh.” They talk of those subjects upon which
their minds mostly run. The recording angel is writing the words of
these professed Christian boys and girls. How will they be confused
and ashamed when they meet them again in the day of God! Many
children are pious hypocrites. The youth who have not made a
profession of religion stumble over these hypocritical ones and are
hardened against any effort that may be made by those interested in
their salvation.
There ought to be picked men at the heart of the work, men who
in every emergency can be relied upon to keep the fort, men who are
unselfish, abounding in generosity and all good works, whose lives
are hid in God, and who consider the better life of more value than
food and clothing. “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than
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raiment?” God calls for faithful sentinels right at the heart of the
work, who will love souls for whom Christ died, and who will bear
the burden for perishing souls, looking forward to that recompense
of reward which will be theirs when they enter into the joy of their
Lord and behold souls saved through their instrumentality to live
as long as God shall live, and be happy, eternally happy, in His
glorious kingdom. Oh, that we could arouse fathers and mothers to
a sense of their duty! Oh, that they would feel deeply the weight
of responsibility resting upon them! Then they might forestall the
enemy and gain precious victories for Jesus. Parents are not clear in
this matter. They should closely investigate their lives, analyze their
thoughts and motives, and see if they have been circumspect in their
course of action. They should watch closely to see if their example
in conversation and deportment has been such as they would wish
their children to imitate. Purity and virtue should shine out in their
words and acts before their children.
I have been shown families where the husband and father has
not preserved that reserve, that dignified, godlike manhood, which
is befitting a follower of Christ. He has failed to perform the kind,
tender, courteous acts due to his wife, whom he has promised before
God and angels to love, respect, and honor while they both shall
live. The girl employed to do the work has been free and somewhat
forward to dress his hair and to be affectionately attentive, and he
is pleased, foolishly pleased. In his love and attention to his wife
he is not as demonstrative as he once was. Be sure that Satan is at