212 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
deeds. Every talent put to a wrong use is entered as robbery in the
books of heaven.
Religion is our only safeguard. Knowledge is power for good or
for evil, but it is only when balanced by religious principle that it is
a power for good. To many, education means a knowledge of books;
but “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” The true object
of education is to restore the image of God in the soul. The first and
most precious knowledge is the knowledge of Christ, and wise parents
will keep this fact ever before the minds of their children.
If parents would prepare their children to be useful in this life, and
to enjoy the future life, they must educate them to fear God and keep
his commandments. They should feel that it is their first and most
important work to bring their sons and daughters under the control of
God’s holy law. It is not enough that they give instruction and counsel
showing the right way. They should feel that it is a solemn duty to
restrain their children from entering forbidden paths.
The history of Eli was given that every parent might shun his error.
The example of Abraham was recorded to show that God approves
the exercise of a restraining influence in the family, and that the all-
important work of fathers and mothers is to teach their children the
way of the Lord. The God in heaven says of Abraham, “I know him,
that he will command his children and his household after him, and
they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” God’s
great standard of righteousness should be established in the home, and
should be held up before the children as the rule of life. The statutes
and commandments of God should be their daily lesson.
Let parents examine themselves individually, and answer to their
own conscience whether they are meeting the requirements of God.
Is the law of God taught in the home? Is it made the rule of the
household? Has the truth taken possession of the souls of fathers
and mothers, who stand in the place of God to their children? Is the
wisdom which cometh from above sought daily in the family? Are the
Holy Scriptures studied as the message of God to men?
Religion in the home means the highest type of religion in the
church; but this home piety is sadly deficient. Parents have been
asleep. The work in their homes has been neglected. To a great
degree the children have moulded the law of the household to suit their
inclination, and parents have been controlled by their unconverted