Book of Books
111
There are but few who have an appreciation of the grievous char-
acter of sin, and who comprehend the greatness of the ruin that has
resulted from the transgression of God’s law. By examining the won-
derful plan of redemption to restore the sinner to the moral image of
God, we see that the only means for man’s deliverance was wrought
out by the self-sacrifice, and the unparalleled condescension and love
of the Son of God. He alone had the strength to fight the battles with
the great Adversary of God and man, and, as our substitute and surety,
He has given power to those who lay hold of Him by faith, to become
victors in His name, and through His merits.
We can see in the cross of Calvary what it has cost the Son of God
to bring salvation to a fallen race. As the sacrifice in behalf of man
was complete, so the restoration of man from the defilement of sin
must be thorough and complete. The law of God has been given to
us, that we may have rules to govern our conduct. There is no act
of wickedness that the law will excuse; there is no unrighteousness
that will escape its condemnation. The life of Christ is a perfect
fulfillment of every precept of this law. He says, “I have kept My
Father’s commandments.” The knowledge of the law would condemn
the sinner, and crush hope from his breast, if he did not see Jesus as his
substitute and surety, ready to pardon his transgression, and to forgive
his sin. When, through faith in Jesus Christ, man does according to
the very best of his ability, and seeks to keep the way of the Lord
by obedience to the ten commandments, the perfection of Christ is
imputed to cover the transgression of the repentant and obedient soul.
There will be an effort made on the part of many pretended friends
of education to divorce religion from the sciences, in our schools. They
[136]
would spare no pains or expense to impart secular knowledge; but they
would not mingle with it a knowledge of what God has revealed as
constituting perfection of character. And yet a training in the truth
of God would develop the mind, and impart secular knowledge as
well; for the very foundation of true education is in the fear of the
Lord. Says the psalmist, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom.” The living oracles of God reveal the deceptions of the father
of lies. Who of our youth can know anything of what is truth, in
comparison with error, unless they are acquainted with the Scriptures?
The simplicity of true godliness must be brought into the education
of our young people, if they are to have divine knowledge to escape