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families are conducted in right lines, the same sanctification of the
Spirit will be brought into the church
Parents should themselves be converted and know what it is to be in
submission to God’s will, as little children, bringing into captivity their
thoughts to the will of Jesus Christ, before they can rightly represent
the government that God designed should exist in the family
God Himself established the family relations. His word is the
only safe guide in the management of children. Human philosophy
has not discovered more than God knows or devised a wiser plan of
dealing with children than that given by our Lord. Who can better
understand all the needs of children than their Creator? Who can feel
a deeper interest in their welfare than He who bought them with His
own blood? If the word of God were carefully studied and faithfully
obeyed, there would be less soul anguish over the perverse conduct of
wicked children
Respect the Children’s Rights—Remember that children have
rights which must be respected
Children have claims which their parents should acknowledge
and respect. They have a right to such an education and training as
will make them useful, respected, and beloved members of society
here, and give them a moral fitness for the society of the pure and
holy hereafter. The young should be taught that both their present
and their future well-being depend to a great degree on the habits
they form in childhood and youth. They should be early accustomed
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to submission, self-denial, and a regard for others’ happiness. They
should be taught to subdue the hasty temper, to withhold the passionate
word, to manifest unvarying kindness, courtesy, and self-control
To a Parent Deluded by Blind Affection—Blind affection, a
cheap manifestation of love, goes a long ways with you. To encircle
the arms about the neck is easy; but manifestations should not be
encouraged by you unless they are proved to be of real value by perfect
obedience. Your indulgence, your disregard of God’s requirements is
the veriest cruelty. You encourage and excuse disobedience by saying,
4
Manuscript 80, 1898
.
5
The Review and Herald, March 13, 1894
.
6
The Signs of the Times, November 24, 1881
.
7
Letter 47a, 1902
.
8
Fundamentals of Christian Education, 67
.