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Fundamentals of Christian Education
He who taught Adam and Eve in Eden how to tend the garden,
would instruct men today. There is wisdom for him who holds the plow,
and plants and sows the seed. The earth has its concealed treasures,
and the Lord would have thousands and tens of thousands working
upon the soil who are crowded into the cities to watch for a chance to
earn a trifle; in many cases that trifle is not turned into bread, but is put
into the till of the publican, to obtain that which destroys the reason of
man formed in the image of God. Those who will take their families
into the country, place them where they have fewer temptations. The
children who are with parents that love and fear God, are in every
way much better situated to learn of the Great Teacher, who is the
source and fountain of wisdom. They have a much more favorable
opportunity to gain a fitness for the kingdom of heaven. Send the
children to schools located in the city, where every phase of temptation
is waiting to attract and demoralize them, and the work of character
building is tenfold harder for both parents and children.
The earth is to be made to give forth its strength; but without the
blessing of God it could do nothing. In the beginning, God looked
upon all that He had made, and pronounced it very good. The curse
was brought upon the earth in consequence of sin. But shall this curse
be multiplied by increasing sin? Ignorance is doing its baleful work.
Slothful servants are increasing the evil by their lazy habits. Many
are unwilling to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow, and they
refuse to till the soil. But the earth has blessings hidden in her depths
for those who have courage and will and perseverance to gather her
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treasures. Fathers and mothers who possess a piece of land and a
comfortable home are kings and queens.
Many farmers have failed to secure adequate returns from their land
because they have undertaken the work as though it was a degrading
employment; they do not see that there is a blessing in it for themselves
and their families. All they can discern is the brand of servitude. Their
orchards are neglected, the crops are not put in at the right season, and
a mere surface work is done in cultivating the soil. Many neglect their
farms in order to keep holidays and to attend horse races and betting
clubs; their money is expended in shows and lotteries and idleness,
and then they plead that they cannot obtain money to cultivate the soil
and improve their farms; but had they more money, the result would
still be the same—
Special Testimonies On Education, February, 1894
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