Unsanctified Ability
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economize his means. The Lord knows. He weighs the inward feelings
and intentions of the heart. He understands man. He tests our fidelity.
He requires that we should love and serve Him with the whole mind,
and heart, and strength. The lovers of pleasure may put on a form of
godliness that involves some self-denial even, and they may sacrifice
time and money, and yet self not be subdued, and the will not be
brought into subjection to the will of God.
The influence of the D girls was very bad in Battle Creek. They
had not been trained. Their mother had neglected her sacred duty and
had not restrained her children. She had not brought them up in the
fear and admonition of the Lord. They had been indulged and shielded
from bearing responsibilities until they had no relish for the plain,
homely duties of life. The mother had educated the daughters to think
much of dress, but the inward adorning was not exalted before them.
These young girls were vain and proud. Their minds were impure;
their conversation was corrupting; and yet there was a class in Battle
Creek who would associate with this stamp of minds, and they could
not associate with them without coming down to their level. These
girls were not dealt as severely with as the case demanded. They love
the society of young men, and the young men are the theme of their
meditation and of their conversation. They have corrupted manners,
and are headstrong and self-confident.
The entire family love display. The mother is not a prudent, dig-
nified woman. She is not qualified to bring up children. To dress
her children to make a show is of greater consequence to her than
the inward adorning. She has not disciplined herself. Her will has
not been brought into conformity to the will of God. Her heart is not
right with God. She is a stranger to the operation of His Spirit upon
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the heart, bringing the desires and affections into conformity to the
obedience of Christ. She does not possess ennobling qualities of mind
and does not discern sacred things. She has let her children do as
they pleased. The fearful experience that she has had with two of her
elder children has not made the deep impression on her mind that the
circumstances demanded. She has educated her children to love dress,
vanity, and folly. She has not disciplined her two younger girls. A D,
under a proper influence, would be a worthy young man; but he has
much to learn. He follows inclination rather than duty. He loves to
follow his own will and pleasure, and has not a correct knowledge of