To Teachers
217
Whoever shall give way to his natural feelings and impulses makes
himself weak and untrustworthy, for he is a channel through which
Satan can communicate to taint and corrupt many souls, and these
unholy fits that control the person unnerve him, and shame and confu-
sion are the sure result. The spirit of Jesus Christ ever has a renewing,
restoring power upon the soul that has felt its own weakness and fled
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to the unchanging One who can give grace and power to resist evil.
Our Redeemer had a broad comprehensive humanity. His heart was
ever touched with the known helplessness of the little child that is
subject to rough usage; for He loved children. The feeblest cry of
human suffering never reached His ear in vain. And everyone who
assumes the responsibility of instructing the youth will meet obdurate
hearts, perverse dispositions, and his work is to co-operate with God
in restoring the moral image of God in every child. Jesus, precious
Jesus,—a whole fountain of love was in His soul. Those who instruct
the children should be men and women of principle.
The religious life of a large number who profess to be Christians
is such as to show that they are not Christians. They are constantly
misrepresenting Christ, falsifying His character. They do not feel the
importance of this transformation of character, and that they must be
conformed to His divine likeness; and at times they will exhibit a false
phase of Christianity to the world, which will work ruin to the souls of
those who are brought into association with them, for the very reason
that they are, while professing to be Christians, not under the control
of Jesus Christ. Their own hereditary and cultivated traits of character
are indulged as precious qualifications when they are death-dealing
in their influence over other minds. In plain, simple words, they walk
in the sparks of their own kindling. They have a religion subject to,
and controlled by, circumstances. If everything happens to move in
a way that pleases them, and there are no irritating circumstances
that call to the surface their unsubdued, unchristlike natures, they are
condescending and pleasant, and will be very attractive. When there
are things that occur in the family or in their association with others
which ruffle their peace and provoke their tempers, if they lay every
circumstance before God, and continue their request, supplicating His
grace before they shall engage in their daily work as teachers, and
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know for themselves the power and grace and love of Christ abiding in
their own hearts before entering upon their labors, angels of God are