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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
education in those essential branches which they can turn to a practical
use and which will give culture to the mind and bring its powers into
use. Very many youth who have gone through a college course have
not obtained that true education that they can put to practical use. They
may have the name of having a collegiate education, but in reality they
are only educated dunces.
There are many young men whose services God would accept
if they would consecrate themselves to Him unreservedly. If they
would exercise those powers of the mind in the service of God which
they use in serving themselves and in acquiring property they would
make earnest, persevering, successful laborers in the vineyard of the
Lord. Many of our young men should turn their attention to the study
of the Scriptures, that God may use them in His cause. But they
do not become as intelligent in spiritual knowledge as in temporal
things; therefore they fail to do the work of God which they could do
with acceptance. There are but few to warn sinners and win souls to
Christ, when there should be many. Our young men generally are wise
in worldly matters, but not intelligent in regard to the things of the
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kingdom of God. They might turn their minds in a heavenly, divine
channel and walk in the light, going on from one degree of light and
strength to another until they could turn sinners to Christ and point the
unbelieving and desponding to a bright track heavenward. And when
the warfare is ended, they might be welcomed to the joy of their Lord.
Young men should not enter upon the work of explaining the Scrip-
tures and lecturing upon the prophecies when they do not have a
knowledge of the important Bible truths they try to explain to others.
They may be deficient in the common branches of education and there-
fore fail to do the amount of good they could do if they had had the
advantages of a good school. Ignorance will not increase the humility
or spirituality of any professed follower of Christ. The truths of the
divine word can be best appreciated by an intellectual Christian. Christ
can be best glorified by those who serve Him intelligently. The great
object of education is to enable us to use the powers which God has
given us in such a manner as will best represent the religion of the
Bible and promote the glory of God.
We are indebted to Him who gave us existence, for all the talents
which have been entrusted to us; and it is a duty we owe to our Creator
to cultivate and improve upon the talents He has committed to our