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liberty which Adventists have claimed that it was their blessed priv-
ilege to enjoy. Brother and Sister P have desired the salvation of
their children, but I saw that God would not work a miracle in their
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conversion while there were duties resting upon the parents of which
they have but little sense. God has left a work for these parents to
do which they have thrown back upon Him to do for them. When
Brother and Sister P feel the burden that they ought to feel for their
children, they will unite their efforts to establish order, discipline,
and wholesome restraint in their family.
Brother P, you have been slothful in bearing the burdens which
every father should bear in his family; and, as the result, the burden
which has been left for the mother to bear has been very heavy. You
have been too willing to excuse yourself from care and burdens at
home and abroad. When, in the fear of God, with solemnity of mind
in view of the judgment, you resolutely take the burden that Heaven
has designed you should take, and when you have done all that you
can on your part, then you can pray understandingly, with the Spirit,
and in faith, for God to do that work for your children which it is
beyond the power of man to perform.
Brother P has not made a judicious use of means. Wise judgment
has not influenced him as much as have the voices and desires of
his children. He does not place the estimate that he should upon the
means in his hands and expend it cautiously for the most needful
articles, for the very things he must have for comfort and health.
The entire family need to improve in this respect. Many things
are needed in the family for convenience and comfort. The lack of
appreciating order and system in the arrangement of family matters
leads to destructiveness and working to great disadvantage. Every
member of the family should realize that a responsibility rests upon
him individually to do his part in adding to the comfort, order, and
regularity of the family. One should not work against another. All
should unitedly engage in the good work of encouraging one another;
they should exercise gentleness, forbearance, and patience, speak in
low, calm tones, shunning confusion, and each doing his utmost to
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lighten the burdens of the mother. Things should no longer be left
at loose ends, all excusing themselves from duty, leaving others to
do that which they can and should do themselves. These things may
be trifles; but when all are put together, they make great disorder