Basic HTML Version
Warnings and Reproofs
89
Your example has not been right, and you have stood directly in
the way of your own children, and the children of Sabbathkeepers,
seeking the Lord. Your course, in this respect, cannot be too severely
censured. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth
good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth
evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For
by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
[96]
condemned.” Your heart needs to be purified, cleansed, sanctified,
through obedience to the truth. Nothing can save you but a thor-
ough conversion—a true sense of your sinful ways and a thorough
transformation by the renewing of your mind.
You have been very zealous to plead the necessity of not denying
our faith by our works, and have made your faith an excuse for
not granting your children an opportunity to obtain an education
in even the common branches. Knowledge in regard to yourself
is what you need, and you will yet have to see the necessity of
obtaining it. Knowledge is what your children need but do not
have the privilege of obtaining. With this great lack they cannot
become useful members of society, and they will be deficient in their
religious education. A weighty responsibility rests at your door. You
are shortening the life of your wife. How can she glorify God in her
body and spirit, which are His?
God has given you light and knowledge, which you have pro-
fessed to believe came direct from Him, instructing you to deny
appetite. You know that the use of swine’s flesh is contrary to His
express command, given not because He wished to especially show
His authority, but because it would be injurious to those who should
eat it. Its use would cause the blood to become impure, so that
scrofula and other humors would corrupt the system, and the whole
organism would suffer. Especially would the fine, sensitive nerves
of the brain become enfeebled and so beclouded that sacred things
would not be discerned, but be placed upon the low level with com-
mon things. Light showing that disease is caused by using this gross
article of food has come just as soon as God’s people could bear it.
Have you heeded the light?