348
Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
have a work to do to show that you understand the duties devolving
upon a Christian father in molding the character of your child after
the divine Pattern. Had you commenced this work in her infancy, it
would be easy now, and the child would be far happier. But under your
discipline the will and perversity of the child have all the while been
strengthening. Now it will require greater severity, and more constant,
[382]
persevering effort, to undo what you have been doing. If you cannot
manage one little child that it is your special duty to control, you will
be deficient in wisdom in managing the spiritual interests of the church
of Christ.
There are errors lying at the very foundation of your experience
that must be rooted out, and you must become a learner in the school
of Christ. Open your eyes to discern where the difficulty lies, and
then make haste to repent of these things and begin to work from a
correct standpoint. Labor not in self, but in God. Put away pride,
self-exaltation, and vanity, and learn of Christ the sweet lessons of the
cross. You must give yourself unreservedly to the work. Be a living
sacrifice upon the altar of God.
If the child of a minister manifests passion, and is indulged in
nearly all its wants, it has an influence to counteract the testimonies
God has given me for parents in regard to the proper management of
their children. You are going directly contrary to the light that God
has been pleased to give, and are choosing a picked-up theory of your
own. But this experiment, so directly in opposition to the instructions
of the word of God, must not be carried out to the injury of the very
ones whom God would have us instruct in reference to the training of
their children.
Your interest should not be swallowed up in your own family to the
exclusion of others. If you share the hospitalities of your brethren, they
may reasonably expect something in return. Identify your interests
with those of parents and children, and seek to instruct and bless.
Sanctify yourself to the work of God and be a blessing to those who
entertain you, conversing with parents and in no case overlooking the
children. Do not feel that your own little one is more precious in the
sight of God than other children. You are liable to neglect others while
petting and indulging your little one, and this very child gives evidence
of your deficient management. She is guilty of acts of disobedience
and passion as many times in a day as her will is crossed. What an
[383]