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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
The work of the teachers in our college will be laborious. Among
those who attend the school there will be some who are nothing less
than Satan’s agents. They have no respect for the rules of the school,
and they demoralize all who associate with them. After the teachers
have done all they can do to reform this class, after they have, by
personal effort, by entreaties and prayer, endeavored to reach them,
and they refuse all the efforts made in their behalf and continue in
their course of sin, then it will be necessary to separate them from the
school, that others may not be contaminated by their evil influence.
To maintain proper discipline and yet exercise pitying love and
tenderness for the souls of those under his care, the teacher needs
a constant supply of the wisdom and grace of God. Order must be
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maintained. But those who love souls, the purchase of the blood of
Christ, should do their utmost to save the erring. These poor sinful
ones are too frequently left in darkness and deception to pursue their
own course, and those who should help them let them alone to go to
ruin. Many excuse their neglect of these careless, wayward ones by
referring to the religious privileges at Battle Creek. They say that if
these do not call them to repentance, nothing will. The opportunities
of attending Sabbath school, and listening to the sermons from the
desk, are indeed precious privileges; but they may be passed by all
unheeded, while if one with true interest should come close to these
souls in sympathy and love, he might succeed in reaching them. I
have been shown that personal effort, judiciously put forth, will have a
telling influence upon these cases considered so hardened. All may
not be so hard at heart as they appear. Our people in Battle Creek
should feel a deep interest for the youth whom the providence of God
has brought under their influence. We have seen a good work done in
the salvation of many who have come to our college, but much more
can be accomplished by personal effort.
The selfish love of “me and mine” keeps many from doing their
duty to others. Do they think that all the work they have to do is for
themselves and their own children? “Inasmuch,” says Christ,” as ye
did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” “Are your
own children of more value in the sight of God than the children of
your neighbors? God is no respecter of persons. We are to do all we
can to save souls. None should be passed by because they have not
the culture and religious training of more favored children. Had these