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Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene
and the evil lose its influence. The evil will increase faster than the
good. It is possible that after many years the evil they have learned
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may be eradicated; but who will venture this? Time is short. It is easier
and much safer to sow clean, good seed in the hearts of your children,
than to pluck up the weeds afterward. Impressions made upon the
minds of the young are hard to efface. How important, then, that these
impressions be of the right sort,—that the elastic faculties of youth be
bent in the right direction!
Throw around your children the charms of home and of your soci-
ety. Treat them with candor, Christian tenderness, and love. This will
give you a strong influence over them, and they will feel that they can
repose unlimited confidence in you. Then they will not have so much
desire for the society of young associates. Because of the evils now
in the world, and the restriction which it is necessary to place upon
children, parents should have double care to bind them to their hearts,
and to let them see that they wish to make them happy.
Among the youth there is an inclination to associate with those
who are inferior in mind and morals. What real enjoyment can a young
person expect from a voluntary association with those who have a low
standard of thought, feeling, and deportment? Some are debased in
taste and depraved in habit, and all who choose such companions will
be in danger of following their pernicious example.
Those who desire immortality must not allow an impure thought
or act. If Christ be the theme of contemplation, the thoughts will be
widely separated from every subject which will lead to impurity in
action. The mind will be strengthened by dwelling upon elevating
subjects. If trained to run in the channel of purity and holiness, it will
become healthy and vigorous. If trained to dwell upon spiritual themes,
it will come naturally to take that channel. But this attraction of the
thoughts to heavenly things cannot be gained without the exercise
of faith in God, and an earnest, humble reliance upon him for that
strength and grace which will be sufficient for every emergency.
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Ample provision has been made for all who sincerely, earnestly,
and thoughtfully set about the work of perfecting holiness in the fear
of God. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ, to
be brought by ministering angels to the heirs of salvation. None are
so low, so corrupt and vile, that they cannot find in Jesus, who died
for them, strength and purity and righteousness, if they will put away