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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
had it not been for this unhappy circumstance. Could you, Brother B,
see and realize the influence of this one wrong step, and the feelings of
passion, of jealousy, and almost hatred that filled your heart because
your course was questioned by Professor Brownsberger, you would
tremble at the sight of yourself and at the triumph of those who cannot
bear restraint and who wage war against rules and regulations which
check them from pursuing their own course. Being a professed disciple
of the meek and lowly Jesus, your influence and responsibility are
greatly increased.
Brother B, I hope you will go over the ground carefully and con-
sider your first temptation to depart from the rules of the college. Study
critically the character of the government of our school. The rules
which were enforced were none too strict. But anger was cherished;
for the time being, reason was dethroned and the heart was made a
prey to ungovernable passion. Before you were aware, you had taken
a step which a few hours previous you would not have taken under
any pressure of temptation. Impulse had overcome reason, and you
could not recall the injury done to yourself nor to an institution of God.
Our only safety under all circumstances is in being always master of
ourselves in the strength of Jesus our Redeemer.
Our college has not that influence of popular opinion to sustain it
in exercising government and enforcing its rules, which other colleges
have. In one respect it is a denominational school; but, unless guarded,
a worldly character and influence will be given to it. Sabbathkeeping
students must possess more moral courage than has hitherto been
manifested, to preserve the moral and religious influence of the school,
or it will differ from the colleges of other denominations only in name.
God devised and established this college, designing that it should be
molded by high religious interests and that every year unconverted
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students who are sent to Battle Creek should return to their homes as
soldiers of the cross of Christ.
Professors and teachers should reflect upon the best means of
maintaining the peculiar character of our college; all should highly
esteem the privileges which we enjoy in having such a school and
should faithfully sustain it and guard it from any breath of reproach.
Selfishness may chill the energies of the students, and the worldly
element may gain a prevailing influence over the entire school. This
would bring the frown of God upon that institution.