Proper Education
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should have been devoted to labor, that the physical and mental powers
might be equally exercised. If schools had been established upon the
plan we have mentioned, there would not now be so many unbalanced
minds.
God prepared for Adam and Eve a beautiful garden. He provided
for them everything that their wants required. He planted for them
fruit-bearing trees of every variety. With a liberal hand He surrounded
them with His bounties. The trees for usefulness and beauty, and the
lovely flowers which sprang up spontaneously and flourished in rich
profusion around them, were to know nothing of decay. Adam and
Eve were rich indeed. They possessed Eden. Adam was Lord in his
beautiful domain. None can question the fact that he was rich. But
God knew that Adam could not be happy unless he had employment.
Therefore He gave him something to do; he was to dress the garden.
If men and women of this degenerate age have a large amount of
earthly treasure, which, in comparison with that Paradise of beauty
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and wealth given the lordly Adam, is very insignificant, they feel
themselves above labor and educate their children to look upon it as
degrading. Such rich parents, by precept and example, instruct their
children that money makes the gentleman and the lady. But our idea of
the gentleman and the lady is measured by the intellect and the moral
worth. God estimates not by dress. The exhortation of the inspired
apostle Peter is: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of
God of great price.” A meek and quiet spirit is exalted above worldly
honor or riches.
The Lord illustrates how He estimates the worldly wealthy who lift
up their souls unto vanity because of their earthly possessions, by the
rich man who tore down his barns and built greater, that he might have
room to bestow his goods. Forgetful of God, he failed to acknowledge
whence all his possessions came. No grateful thanks ascended to his
gracious Benefactor. He congratulated himself thus: “Soul, thou hast
much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and
be merry.” The Master, who had entrusted to him earthly riches with
which to bless his fellow men and glorify his Maker, was justly angry
at his ingratitude and said: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be