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An Ever-Widening Circle, September 28
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
.
Fathers and mothers should feel that a duty devolves upon them to
guide the affections of the youth, that they may be placed upon those
who will be suitable companions. They should ... so mold the character
of the children from their earliest years that they will be pure and noble,
and will be attracted to the good and true....
True love is a high and holy principle, altogether different in charac-
ter from that love which is awakened by impulse, and which suddenly
dies when severely tested. It is by faithfulness to duty in the parental
home that the youth are to prepare themselves for homes of their own.
Let them here practice self-denial, and manifest kindness, courtesy, and
Christian sympathy. Thus love will be kept warm in the heart, and he
who goes out from such a household to stand at the head of a family of
his own, will know how to promote the happiness of her whom he has
chosen as a companion for life.
Fathers and mothers, you are to build up in this life characters which
will help you to fit your children for the future, immortal life, which
will help them to form such characters that you will not be ashamed
to see them, as parents, taking the charge of their own children, and
transferring to them your own attributes.
Let those who are contemplating marriage weigh every sentiment
and watch every development of character in the one with whom they
think to unite their life destiny.
Take God and your God-fearing parents into your counsel, young
friends. Pray over the matter.... The step you are about to take is one of
the most important in your life, and should not be taken hastily. While
you may love, do not love blindly.
Let every step toward a marriage alliance be characterized by mod-
esty, simplicity, sincerity, and an earnest purpose to please and honor
God.
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