Correct School Discipline
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they desire. True, they have been oppressed and cramped in every way
in their religious life, but that religious life was a farce. They were
appointed to be co-laborers with Jesus Christ, and yoking up with
Christ was their only chance for perfect rest and freedom. Had they
done this, they would never have been confounded.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation,
a peculiar people; that ye should show forth [your own sufficiency,
and attract attention to yourself, and seek your own glory?—No; no]
that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you [to a
distasteful, hard life of bondage?] out of darkness into His marvelous
light.”
Will you think of the high position to which we were appointed?
Will those who name the name of Christ depart from all evil? Will
you or I fret under Christ’s yoke? When you cherish unrest and love
for amusement, and to have a high stirring time of exhibition of self,
enjoying and pleasing the natural will in the place of doing the will of
God, is there any rest? Is the temple of God upbuilt in your life by the
frivolous view you take of Christianity? “Having your conversation
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honest among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as
evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.” Is not the word of God to be our
guide and our director? Shall any be slow to study that word? Shall
any profess to be Christians, and yet by their course of action become a
reproach to the faith, just because they desire to live to please their own
natural inclinations? Will they, though professing faith in the truth,
pursue a course to abuse that faith and dishonor the truth of heavenly
origin? Who have appreciated the precious opportunities granted them
in probationary time to form characters that God can approve, because
they wear the yoke of obedience that Christ wore? What does He say
in regard to this? “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am
meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Many who profess to believe in Christ do not wear His yoke. They
think that they do, but if they were not deluded and deceived by Satan,
they would have thoughts corresponding with their faith, and with the
great truths which they profess to believe. They would realize that the
words of Christ mean something to them. “If any man will come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” If you