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Christian Education
in his very soul that the great needs of those under his care, are the
regenerating power of God’s Spirit in the heart, the living practice,
the preparation for higher Christian attainments. This education will
give to the character those softening, refining touches that proceed
from Christ himself. These graces will give a sweetness of character,
a gentleness of manner, which can never be equaled by the superficial
polish of fashionable society. Let every worker for Christ make it
his highest aim to win souls to God, rather than to be looking at
and teaching mere superficial acquirements. Direct your energies to
the fitting of living stones for the building of God’s temple.—
Gospel
Workers, 315-319
.
The agency of the Spirit of God does not remove from us the
necessity of exercising our faculties and talents, but teaches us how to
use every power to the glory of God. The human faculties when under
the special direction of the grace of God, are capable of being used to
the best purpose on earth, and will be exercised in the future immortal
life.
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Ignorance will not increase the humility or spirituality of any pro-
fessed follower of Christ. The truths of the divine word can be best
appreciated by an intellectual Christian. Christ can be best glorified by
those who serve him intelligently. The great object of education is to
enable us to use the powers which God has given us in such a manner
as will best represent the religion of the Bible and promote the glory
of God.
We are indebted to Him who gave us existence for all the talents
which have been intrusted to us; and it is a duty we owe to our Creator
to cultivate and improve upon the talents he has committed to our
trust. Education will discipline the mind, develop its powers, and
understandingly direct them, that we may be useful in advancing the
glory of God.
It is true that the world’s men of learning are not easily reached by
the practical truths of God’s word. The reason is, they trust to human
wisdom, and pride themselves upon their intellectual superiority, and
are unwilling to become humble learners in the school of Christ. Our
Saviour did not ignore learning or despise education; yet he chose
unlearned fishermen for the work of the gospel, because they had not
been schooled in the false customs and traditions of the world. They
were men of good natural ability, and of a humble, teachable spirit;