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Spiritual Gifts, Volume 4b
increase faster than the good. It is possible the evil they have learned
might be eradicated after many years; but who will venture this? Time
is short. It is easier and much safer to sow clean and good seed in the
hearts of your children, than to pluck up the weeds afterward. It is the
parents’ duty to watch lest surrounding influence have an injurious
effect upon their children. It is their duty to select the society for them,
and not suffer them to choose for themselves. If parents do not do this
work, who will? Can others have that interest for your children which
you should have? Can they have that constant care and deep love that
parents have?
Sabbath-keeping children may become impatient of restraint, and
think their parents too strict; and hard feelings may even arise in their
hearts, and discontented, unhappy thoughts may be cherished by them
against those who are working for their present, their future and eternal
good. But if life should be spared a few years, they will bless their
parents for their strict care and faithful watchfulness over them in their
years of inexperience. Parents should explain and simplify the plan of
salvation to their children, that their young minds may comprehend
it. Children of eight, ten, or twelve years of age, are old enough to
be addressed on the subject of personal religion. Do not teach your
children with reference to some future period, when they shall be
old enough to repent and believe the truth. Very young children, if
properly instructed, may have correct views of their state as sinners,
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and of the way of salvation through Christ. Ministers are generally
too indifferent to the salvation of children, and are not personal as
they should be. Golden opportunities to impress the minds of children
frequently pass without being improved.
The bad influence around our children is almost overpowering;
corrupting their minds and leading them down to perdition. The minds
of youth are naturally given to folly, and at an early age, before their
characters are formed, and their judgment matured, they frequently
manifest preference for associates who will have an injurious influence
over them. Some form attachments for the other sex, and disregard the
wishes and entreaties of their parents, and break the fifth command-
ment, by thus dishonoring them. It is the duty of parents to watch the
going out and coming in of their children. They should encourage
them, and present inducements before them which will attract them at
home, and lead them to see that their parents are interested for them.