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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
Eli remonstrated with his sons, but did not act promptly in restrain-
ing them. The ease-loving, affectionate father was warned of God that
retribution would follow his neglect, but even then he did not feel the
importance of at once putting the disgusting evil away from Israel.
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He should have taken prompt measures himself; but instead of this he
said, with remarkable submission: “It is the Lord: let Him do what
seemeth Him good.” If he had been aroused to the full guilt of his
neglect, Israel might have been saved from the humiliation of defeat,
and the ark of God would not have fallen into the enemy’s hands.
God condemns the negligence that dallies with sin and crime,
and the insensibility that is slow to detect its baleful presence in the
families of professed Christians. He holds parents accountable in a
great degree for the faults and follies of their offspring. God visited
with His curse not only the sons of Eli, but Eli himself, and this fearful
example should be a warning to the parents of this time.
As I looked upon the perilous situation of our youth, and was
shown how indifferent the parents are to their welfare, my heart was
sick and faint; angels were troubled and wept with grief. The youth
are passing into the world, and into the hands of Satan. They are
becoming less susceptible to the sweet influences of the grace of God,
bolder and more defiant, and manifest increasing disregard of eternal
interests. I saw Satan planting his banner in the households of those
who profess to be God’s chosen ones, but those who are walking in
the light should be able to discern the difference between the black
banner of the adversary and the bloodstained standard of Christ.
Children should be taught by precept and example. Parents should
meet their grave responsibilities with fear and trembling. Fervent
prayers should be offered for divine strength and guidance in this
task. In many families the seeds of vanity and selfishness are sown
in the hearts of the children almost during babyhood. Their cunning
little sayings and doings are commented upon and praised in their
presence, and repeated with exaggerations to others. The little ones
take note of this and swell with self-importance; they presume to
interrupt conversations, and become forward and impudent. Flattery
and indulgence foster their vanity and willfulness, until the youngest
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not unfrequently rules the whole family, father and mother included.
The disposition formed by this sort of training cannot be laid aside
as the child matures to riper judgment. It grows with his growth,