140
Counsels for the Church
forgiven, the soul is marred. All impurity of speech or of thought must
be shunned by him who would have clear discernment of spiritual
truth
Some will acknowledge the evil of sinful indulgences, yet
will excuse themselves by saying that they cannot overcome their
passions. This is a terrible admission for any person to make who
names Christ. “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart
from iniquity.”
2 Timothy 2:19
. Why is this weakness? It is because
the animal propensities have been strengthened by exercise until they
have gained the ascendancy over the higher powers. Men and women
lack principle. They are dying spiritually because they have so long
pampered their natural appetites that their power of self-government
[108]
seems gone. The lower passions of their nature have taken the reins,
and that which should be the governing power has become the servant
of corrupt passion. The soul is held in lowest bondage. Sensuality has
quenched the desire for holiness and withered spiritual prosperity
Defile Not the Temple of God
It is the special work of Satan in these last days to take possession
of the minds of youth, to corrupt the thoughts and inflame the passions;
for he knows that by so doing he can lead to impure actions, and thus
all the noble faculties of the mind will become debased, and he can
control them to suit his own purposes
My soul mourns for the youth who are forming characters in this
degenerate age. I tremble for their parents also; for I have been shown
that as a general thing they do not understand their obligations to train
up their children in the way they should go. Custom and fashion are
consulted, and the children soon learn to be swayed by these and are
corrupted; while their indulgent parents are themselves benumbed and
asleep to their danger. But very few of the youth are free from corrupt
habits. They are excused from physical exercise to a great degree for
fear they will overwork. The parents bear burdens themselves which
their children should bear.
Overwork is bad, but the result of indolence is more to be dreaded.
Idleness leads to the indulgence of corrupt habits. Industry does not
158
The Desire of Ages, 302
159
Testimonies for the Church 2:348
160
Child Guidance, 440