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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
I have mentioned, where duty was too plain for any mistake, if the
conscience and affections had not become paralyzed by a long course
of continued idolatry of self.
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Because of your leaving your parents in their suffering when they
needed help, the church was obliged to take this burden and to watch
with the suffering members of Christ’s body. In this heartless neglect
you brought the frown of God upon yourselves. God does not lightly
pass by such things. They are recorded by the angels. God cannot
prosper those who go directly contrary to the plainest duty specified in
His word, the duty of children to their parents. Children who feel under
no more obligation to their earthly parents than you have done, but can
so easily step out from the responsibilities upon them, will not have
due respect for their heavenly Father; they will not reverence or respect
the claims that God has upon them. If they disrespect and dishonor
their earthly parents they will not respect and love their Creator. In
neglecting her parents, your wife transgressed the fifth precept of the
Decalogue: “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be
long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” This is the first
commandment with promise. Those who disrespect or dishonor their
parents need not expect that the blessing of God will attend them. Our
parents have claims upon us that we cannot throw off or lightly regard.
But children who have not been trained and controlled in childhood,
and who have been permitted to make themselves the objects of their
care, selfishly seeking their own ease and avoiding burdens, become
heartless and do not respect the claims of their parents, who watched
over them in their infancy.
Brother R, you have been selfish in these things yourself and greatly
deficient in duty. You have required attention and care, but you have
not given the same in return. You have been selfish and exacting, and
have frequently been unreasonable and given your wife occasion for
trial. Both of you have been unconsecrated and astonishingly selfish.
You have made but little sacrifice for the truth’s sake. You, as well as
your wife, have avoided burdens, and have occupied a position to be
waited upon rather than to try to be as little burden as possible.
Ministers of Christ should feel it a duty binding upon them, if they
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receive the hospitalities of their brethren or friends, to leave a blessing
with the family by seeking to encourage and strengthen its members.
They should not neglect the duties of a pastor, as they visit from house