96
Fundamentals of Christian Education
nobody cares for me” takes possession of them, and although they
profess to be followers of Christ, they have a tempting devil on their
track, and they are in danger of becoming disheartened, and lukewarm,
and backslidden from God. Then some feel it a duty to blame them,
and to treat them coldly, as if they were a great deal worse than they
really are, and but few, and perhaps none, feel it a special duty to make
personal effort to reform them, and to remove the baleful impressions
that have been made upon them.
The teacher’s obligations are weighty and sacred, but no part of
the work is more important than to look after the youth with tender,
loving solicitude, that they may feel that we have a friend in them.
Once gain their confidence, and you can lead them, control them, and
train them easily. The holy motives of our Christian principles must be
[117]
brought into our life. The salvation of our pupils is the highest interest
intrusted to the God-fearing teacher. He is Christ’s worker, and his
special and determined effort should be to save souls from perdition
and win them to Jesus Christ. God will require this at the hands of
teachers. Every one should lead a life of piety, of purity, of painstaking
effort in the discharge of every duty. If the heart is glowing with the
love of God, there will be pure affection, which is essential; prayers
will be fervent, and faithful warnings will be given. Neglect these, and
the souls under your charge are endangered. Better spend less time
in long speeches, or in absorbing study, and attend to these neglected
duties.
After all these efforts, teachers may find that some under their
charge will develop unprincipled characters. They are lax in morals as
the result, in many cases, of vicious example and neglected parental
discipline. And teachers doing all they can will fail to bring these
youth to a life of purity and holiness; and after patient discipline,
affectionate labor, and fervent prayer, they will be disappointed by
those from whom they have hoped so much. And in addition to this,
the reproaches of the parents will come to them, because they did
not have power to counteract the influence of their own example and
unwise training. The teacher will have these discouragements after
doing his duty. But he must work on, trusting in God to work with him,
standing at his post manfully, and laboring on in faith. Others will
be saved to God, and their influence will be exerted in saving others.
Let the minister, the Sabbath school teacher, and the teachers in our