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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
and bring down the frown of God. It is the neglect of the littles, the
trifles, that poisons life’s happiness. A faithful performance of the
littles composes the sum of happiness to be realized in this life. He
that is faithful in little is faithful also in much. He that is unfaithful
or unjust in small matters will be in greater matters. Each member
of the family should understand just the part he is expected to act in
union with the others. All, from the child six years old and upward,
should understand that it is required of them to bear their share of
life’s burdens.
There are important lessons for these children to learn, and they
can learn them better now than at a later period. God will work
for these dear children in union with the wisely directed efforts of
their parents and will bring them to become learners in the school of
Christ. Jesus would have these children separate from the vanities of
the world, leave the pleasures of sin, and choose the path of humble
obedience. If they will now heed the gracious invitation, accept
Jesus as their Saviour, and follow on to know the Lord, He will
cleanse them from their sins and impart to them grace and strength.
Dear Brother P, the lessons which you have learned amid the
distracting influences that have existed in Maine have been exceed-
ingly injurious to your family. You have not been as circumspect in
your conversation as God requires you to be. You have not dwelt
upon the truth in your family, diligently teaching its principles and
the commandments of God unto your children when you rise up and
when you sit down, when you go out and when you come in. You
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have not appreciated your work as a father or as a minister.
You have not zealously performed your duty to your children.
You have not devoted sufficient time to family prayer, and you have
not required the presence of the entire household. The meaning of
“husband” is
house band
. All members of the family center in the
father. He is the lawmaker, illustrating in his own manly bearing
the sterner virtues, energy, integrity, honesty, patience, courage,
diligence, and practical usefulness. The father is in one sense the
priest of the household, laying upon the altar of God the morning
and evening sacrifice. The wife and children should be encouraged
to unite in this offering and also to engage in the song of praise.
Morning and evening the father, as priest of the household, should
confess to God the sins committed by himself and his children