Advantage of the Early Years
147
away from God. Thousands will rise up in the judgment and charge
the ruin of their souls upon the infidel Voltaire.
By the thoughts and feelings cherished in early years every youth
is determining his own life history. Correct, virtuous, manly habits
formed in youth will become a part of the character and will usually
mark the course of the individual through life. The youth may become
vicious or virtuous, as they choose. They may as well be distinguished
for true and noble deeds as for great crime and wickedness
[197]
Hannah’s Reward—Opportunities of inestimable worth, interests
infinitely precious, are committed to every mother. During the first
three years of the life of Samuel the prophet, his mother carefully
taught him to distinguish between good and evil. By every familiar
object surrounding him she sought to lead his thoughts up to the
Creator. In fulfillment of her vow to give her son to the Lord, with
great self-denial she placed him under the care of Eli the high priest,
to be trained for service in the house of God.... His early training
led him to choose to maintain his Christian integrity. What a reward
was Hannah’s! And what an encouragement to faithfulness is her
example
How Joseph’s Mind Was Garrisoned—The lessons given
Joseph in his youth by Jacob in expressing his firm trust in God and
relating to him again and again the precious evidences of His loving-
kindness and unceasing care were the very lessons he needed in his
exile among an idolatrous people. In the testing time he put these
lessons to a practical use. When under the severest trial, he looked to
his heavenly Father, whom he had learned to trust. Had the precepts
and example of the father of Joseph been of an opposite character, the
pen of inspiration would never have traced upon the pages of sacred
history the story of integrity and virtue that shines forth in the character
of Joseph. The early impressions made upon his mind garrisoned his
heart in the hour of fierce temptation and led him to exclaim, “How
can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
The Fruitage of Wise Training—It is a sad fact that any weakness
and indecision on the part of the mother is quickly seen by the children,
and the tempter then works upon their minds, leading them to persist
[198]
14
Ibid
.
15
The Review and Herald, September 8, 1904
.
16
Good Health, January, 1880
.