Proper Education of the Young
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gathering knowledge. By exerting every power to glorify God, they
will have increased power with which to glorify Him. But those who
are willing to remain in a narrow channel because God condescended
to accept them when they were there, are very foolish; and yet there
are hundreds and thousands who are doing this very thing. God has
given them the living machinery, and this needs to be used daily in
order for the mind to reach higher and still higher attainments. It is a
shame that many link ignorance with humility, and that with all the
qualities God has given us for education, so great a number are willing
to remain in the same low position that they were in when the truth
first reached them. They do not grow mentally; they are no better fitted
and prepared to do great and good works than when they first heard
the truth.
Many who are teachers of the truth cease to be students, digging,
ever digging for truth as for hidden treasures. Their minds reach
a common, low standard; but they do not seek to become men of
influence,—not for the sake of selfish ambition, but for Christ’s sake,
that they may reveal the power of the truth upon the intellect. It is
no sin to appreciate literary talent, if it is not idolized; but no one is
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to strive for vainglory to exalt self. When this is the case, there is an
absence of the wisdom that cometh from above, which is first pure,
then peaceable, easy to be entreated, full of love and of good fruits.
The established missions in our cities, if conducted by men who
have ability to wisely manage such missions, will be steady lights,
shining amid the moral darkness. The opening of the Scriptures by
means of Bible readings is an essential part of the work connected
with these missions; but workers cannot take hold of this work unless
they are prepared for it. Many ought to be trained in school before
they even know how to study to bring their minds and thoughts under
the control of the will, and how to use wisely their mental powers.
There is much to be learned by us as a people before we are
qualified to engage in the great work of preparing a people to stand
in the day of the Lord. Our Sabbath schools which are to instruct the
children and youth are too superficial. The managers of these need to
plow deeper. They need to put more thought and more hard work upon
the work they are doing. They need to be more thorough students of
the Bible, and to have a deeper religious experience, in order to know
how to conduct Sabbath schools after the Lord’s order, and how to lead