Example of Isaac
403
married life are usually sufficient to show them their error, but often
too late to prevent its baleful results. For the same lack of wisdom and
self-control that dictated the hasty choice is permitted to aggravate the
evil, until the marriage relation becomes a galling yoke. Many have
thus wrecked their happiness in this life, and their hope of the life to
come.
If there is any subject which should be carefully considered, and
in which the counsel of older and more experienced persons should be
sought, it is the subject of marriage; if ever the Bible was needed as
a counselor, if ever divine guidance should be sought in prayer, it is
before taking a step that binds persons together for life.
Parents should never lose sight of their own responsibility for the
future happiness of their children. Isaac’s deference of his father’s
judgment was the result of the training that had taught him to love
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a life of obedience. While Abraham required his children to respect
parental authority, his daily life testified that that authority was not
a selfish or arbitrary control, but was founded in love, and had their
welfare and happiness in view.
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 feel it a duty, by their
own teaching and example, with the assisting grace of God, to 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. Like
attracts like; like appreciates like. Let the love for truth and purity and
goodness be early implanted in the soul, and the youth will seek the
society of those who possess these characteristics....
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. Marriage, instead of being the end
of love, will be only its beginning.—
Patriarchs and Prophets, 174-176
.