Ways in Which Character is Ruined
133
amuse, and glorify themselves. Parents sow the seed in the hearts
of their children which yields a harvest that they do not care to reap.
Under this training, at the age of ten, twelve, or sixteen, children think
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themselves very wise, imagine that they are prodigies, and regard
themselves as altogether too knowing to be in subjection to their par-
ents, and too elevated to stoop to the duties of everyday life. The love
of pleasure controls their minds; and selfishness, pride, and rebellion
work out their bitter results in their lives. They accept the insinuations
of Satan and cultivate an unhallowed ambition to make a great show
in the world
By Misguided Love and Sympathy—Parents may indulge their
affection for their children at the expense of obedience to God’s holy
law. Guided by this affection, they disobey God by allowing their
children to carry out wrong impulses, and withhold the instruction and
discipline which God has commanded them to give. When parents
thus disregard the commands of God, they imperil their own souls and
the souls of their children
Weakness in requiring obedience, and false love and sympathy—
the false notion that to indulge and not to restrain is wisdom—
constitute a system of training that grieves angels; but it delights Satan,
for it brings hundreds and thousands of children into his ranks. This
is why he blinds the eyes of parents, benumbs their sensibilities, and
confuses their minds. They see that their sons and daughters are not
pleasant, lovely, obedient, and care-taking; yet children accumulate in
their homes, to poison their lives, fill their hearts with grief, and add
to the number whom Satan is using to allure souls to destruction
By Failure to Require Obedience—If ungrateful children are fed
and clothed and allowed to go uncorrected, they are emboldened to
continue in their course of evil. And inasmuch as their parents or
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guardians thus favor them and do not require obedience, they are
partakers with them in their wicked deeds. Such children might just
as well be with the wicked, whose iniquitous course they choose to
follow, as to remain in Christian homes, to poison others. In this age
of wickedness every Christian must stand firm in condemnation of
the evil, Satanic actions of wayward children. Evil youth should not
12
The Youth’s Instructor, July 20, 1893
.
13
The Review and Herald, April 6, 1897
.
14
Testimonies For The Church 5:324
.