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Christian Education
action. The Lord saw in those rough, unhewn stones, precious material,
that would stand the test of storm and heat and pressure. God seeth
not as man sees. He judges not from appearances, but he searches the
heart, and judges righteously.
The teacher should ever conduct himself as a Christian gentleman.
He should ever stand in the attitude of a friend and counselor to his
pupils. If all our people—teachers, ministers, and lay members—
would cultivate the spirit of Christian courtesy, they would far more
readily find access to the hearts of the people; many more would be
led to examine and receive the truth. When every teacher shall forget
self, and feel a deep interest in the success and prosperity of his pupils,
realizing that they are God’s property, and that he must render an
account for his influence upon their minds and character, then we shall
have a school in which angels will love to linger. Jesus will look
approvingly upon the work of the teachers, and will send his grace
into the hearts of the students.
Our College at Battle Creek is a place where the younger members
of God’s family are to be trained according to God’s plan of growth
and development. They should be impressed with the idea that they
are created in the image of their Maker, and that Christ is the pattern
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which they are to follow. Our brethren permit their minds to take too
narrow and too low a range. They do not keep the divine plan ever in
view, but are fixing their eyes upon worldly models. Look up, where
Christ sitteth at the right hand of God, and then labor that your pupils
may be conformed to that perfect character.
If you lower the standard in order to secure popularity and an
increase of numbers, and then make this increase a cause of rejoicing,
you show great blindness. If numbers were evidence of success, Satan
might claim the pre-eminence; for, in this world, his followers are
largely in the majority. It is the degree of moral power pervading the
College, that is a test of its prosperity. It is the virtue, intelligence, and
piety of the people composing our churches, not their numbers, that
should be a source of joy and thankfulness.
Without the influence of divine grace, education will prove no real
advantage; the learner becomes proud, vain, and bigoted. But that
education which is received under the ennobling, refining influence of
the great Teacher, will elevate man in the scale of moral value with
God. It will enable him to subdue pride and passion, and to walk