Size of the Family
119
children, and that she has not time intervening between their births to
do the work every mother needs to do, why do you not consider the
sure result? Every child draws upon the vitality of the mother, and
when fathers and mothers do not use their reason in this matter, what
chance is given to parents or children to be properly disciplined? The
Lord calls upon parents to consider this matter in the light of future
eternal realities
Economic Considerations—[Parents] should calmly consider
what provision can be made for their children. They have no right to
bring children into the world to be a burden to others. Have they a
business that they can rely upon to sustain a family so that they need
not become a burden to others? If they have not, they commit a crime
[165]
in bringing children into the world to suffer for want of proper care,
food, and clothing
Those who are seriously deficient in business tact, and who are the
least qualified to get along in the world, generally fill their houses with
children; while men who have ability to acquire property generally
have no more children than they can well provide for. Those who are
not qualified to take care of themselves should not have children
How Perplexity Is Sometimes Brought to the Church—Many
who can but barely live when they are single choose to marry and raise
a family when they know they have nothing with which to support
them. And worse than this, they have no family government. Their
whole course in their family is marked with their loose, slack habits.
They have but little control over themselves and are passionate, im-
patient, and fretful. When such embrace the message, they feel that
they are entitled to assistance from their more wealthy brethren; and if
their expectations are not met, they complain of the church and accuse
them of not living out their faith. Who must be the sufferers in this
case? Must the cause of God be sapped, and the treasury in different
places exhausted, to take care of these large families of poor? No. The
parents must be the sufferers. They will not, as a general thing, suffer
any greater lack after they embrace the Sabbath than they did before
7
Letter 107, 1898
.
8
Testimonies For The Church 2, 380
.
9
A Solemn Appeal, 103
.
10
Testimonies For The Church 1, 273
.