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The Ministry of Healing
and mothers have cherished and guarded by careful instruction and
earnest prayer.
Many who enter school with the purpose of fitting themselves for
some line of unselfish ministry become absorbed in secular studies.
An ambition is aroused to win distinction in scholarship and to gain
position and honor in the world. The purpose for which they entered
school is lost sight of, and the life is given up to selfish and worldly
pursuits. And often habits are formed that ruin the life both for this
world and for the world to come.
As a rule, men and women who have broad ideas, unselfish pur-
poses, noble aspirations, are those in whom these characteristics
were developed by their associations in early years. In all His deal-
ings with Israel, God urged upon them the importance of guarding
the associations of their children. All the arrangements of civil,
religious, and social life were made with a view to preserving the
children from harmful companionship and making them, from their
earliest years, familiar with the precepts and principles of the law
of God. The object lesson given at the birth of the nation was of a
nature deeply to impress all hearts. Before the last terrible judgment
came upon the Egyptians in the death of the first-born, God com-
manded His people to gather their children into their own homes.
The doorpost of every house was marked with blood, and within the
protection assured by this token all were to abide. So today parents
who love and fear God are to keep their children under “the bond
of the covenant” —within the protection of those sacred influences
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made possible through Christ’s redeeming blood.
Of His disciples Christ said, “I have given them Thy word; and
... they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”
John
17:14
.
“Be not conformed to this world,” God bids us; “but be ye trans-
formed by the renewing of your mind.”
Romans 12:2
.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what com-
munion hath light with darkness? ... and what agreement hath the
temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God;
as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore