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Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene
resented as the worst of insults to your dignified womanhood. If it
is from one in high position, who is ministering to the flock of God,
the sin is of the greater magnitude, and should lead a God-fearing
woman to recoil with horror from the hypocrisy and villainy of one
whom the people respect and honor as God’s servant. He is handling
sacred things, yet hiding his baseness of heart under the cloak of his
high calling. Be afraid of anything like this familiarity. Be sure that it
is evidence of an impure mind. If you give the least encouragement
in this direction, you make it evident that your mind is not pure and
chaste as it should be, and that sin has charms for you. You lower the
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standard of your womanhood.
Our sisters should cultivate true meekness. They may be courteous;
but they should not be forward, talkative, and bold. To be kind, tender,
pitiful, forgiving, and humble is well pleasing to God. If they occupy
this position, they will not be burdened with undue attention from the
other sex. There will be a sacred circle of purity around them, which
will shield them from unwarrantable liberties.
Vainglory, the fashion of the world, the desire of the eye, and the
lust of the flesh, are closely connected with the fall of the unfortunate.
If these things had been rooted out of the heart, these fallen ones
would not be so weak. If women could view these matters as God
has presented them to me, they would have such an abhorrence of
impurity that they would not be found among those who fall through
the temptations of Satan, no matter whom he might select as the
medium.
Those godly women whose minds and hearts are occupied in med-
itating upon themes which strengthen purity of life, and which elevate
the soul to commune with God, will not be easily led astray from the
path of rectitude and virtue. Such will be fortified against the sophistry
of Satan; they will be prepared to withstand his seductive arts.
My soul mourns for the youth who are forming character in this
degenerate age. I tremble for their parents also; for they do not realize
their obligation to train up their children in the way they should go.
Custom and fashion are consulted, and as the children soon learn to
be swayed by these, they are easily corrupted; while their careless
and indulgent parents are asleep to the danger which threatens their
offspring.