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Counsels for the Church
Parents’ Need of More Divine Guidance
You cannot with impunity neglect the proper training of your chil-
dren. Their defective characters will publish your unfaithfulness. The
evils that you permit to pass uncorrected, the coarse, rough manners,
the disrespect and disobedience, the habits of indolence and inatten-
tion, will bring dishonor to your names and bitterness into your lives.
The destiny of your children rests to a great extent in your hands. If
you fail in duty you may place them in the ranks of the enemy and
make them his agents in ruining others; on the other hand, if you faith-
fully instruct them, if in your own lives you set before them a godly
example, you may lead them to Christ, and they in turn will influence
others, and thus many may be saved through your instrumentality
God desires us to deal with our children in simplicity. We are liable
to forget that children have not had the advantage of the long years
of training that older people have had. If the little ones do not act in
accordance with our ideas in every respect, we sometimes think that
they deserve a scolding. But this will not mend matters. Take them to
the Saviour, and tell Him all about it; then believe that His blessing
will rest upon them
Children should be taught to respect and reverence the hour of
prayer. Before leaving the house for labor, all the family should be
called together, and the father, or the mother in the father’s absence,
should plead fervently with God to keep them through the day. Come
in humility with a heart full of tenderness and with a sense of the
temptations and dangers before yourselves and your children; by faith
bind them upon the altar, entreating for them the care of the Lord.
Ministering angels will guard children who are thus dedicated to God.
It is the duty of Christian parents, morning and evening, by earnest
prayer and persevering faith, to make a hedge about their children.
They should patiently instruct them, kindly and untiringly teach them
how to live in order to please God
Teach your children that it is their privilege to receive every day
the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Let Christ find you His helping hand
310
Testimonies for the Church 7:66
311
Child Guidance, 287
312
Testimonies for the Church 1:397, 398