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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
located, with the selfish motive of making money. This class will be
no help to the youth either by precept or example.
The dangers of the young are greatly increased as they are thrown
into the society of a large number of their own age of varied character
and habits of life. Under these circumstances many parents are inclined
to relax rather than redouble their own efforts to guard and control
their children. Thus they cast a tremendous burden upon those who
feel the responsibility. When these parents see that their children are
becoming demoralized, they are inclined to find fault with those who
have charge of the work at Battle Creek, when the evils have been
caused by just such a course as these parents themselves have pursued.
Instead of uniting with those who bear the burdens, to lift up the
standard of morals, and working with heart and soul in the fear of God
to correct the wrongs in their children, many parents soothe their own
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consciences by saying: “My children are no worse than others.” They
seek to conceal the glaring wrongs which God hates, lest their children
shall become offended and take some desperate course. If the spirit
of rebellion is in their hearts, far better subdue it now than permit it
to increase and strengthen by indulgence. If parents would do their
duty, we should see a different state of things. Many of these parents
have backslidden from God. They do not have wisdom from Him to
perceive the devices of Satan and to resist his snares.
In this age of the world, children should have strict watchcare.
They should be advised and restrained. Eli was cursed of God because
he did not promptly and decidedly restrain his wicked sons. There are
parents at Battle Creek who are doing no better than did Eli. They are
afraid to control their children. They see them serving Satan with a
high hand and pass it by as a disagreeable necessity which must be
endured because it cannot be cured.
Every son and daughter should be called to account if absent from
home at night. Parents should know what company their children
are in and at whose house they spend their evenings. Some children
deceive their parents with falsehoods to avoid exposure of their wrong
course. There are those who seek the society of corrupt companions
and secretly visit saloons and other forbidden places of resort in the
city. There are students who visit the billiard rooms, and who engage
in card playing, flattering themselves that there is no danger. Since
their object is merely amusement, they feel perfectly safe. It is not the