Chapter 18—Counsel to an Indulged Daughter
You have a fearful record of the past year, which is laid open to the
view of the Majesty of heaven and the myriads of pure, sinless angels.
Your thoughts and acts, your desperate and unsanctified feelings, may
have been concealed from mortals; but remember, the most trivial acts
of your life are open to the view of God. You have a spotted record in
Heaven. The sins you have committed are all registered there.
God’s frown is upon you, and yet you appear destitute of feeling;
you do not realize your lost and undone condition. At times you do
have feelings of remorse; but your proud, independent spirit soon rises
above this, and you stifle the voice of conscience.
You are not happy; yet you imagine that if you could have your
own way unrestrained, you would be happy. Poor child! you occupy a
position similar to that of Eve in Eden. She imagined that she would
be highly exalted if she could only eat of the fruit of the tree which
God had forbidden her even to touch, lest she die. She ate, and lost all
the glories of Eden.
Controlling the Imagination
You should control your thoughts. This will not be an easy task;
you cannot accomplish it without a close and even severe effort. Yet
God requires this of you; it is a duty resting upon every accountable
being. You are responsible to God for your thoughts. If you indulge
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in vain imaginations, permitting your mind to dwell upon impure
subjects, you are, in a degree, as guilty before God as if your thoughts
were carried into action. All that prevents the action is the lack of
opportunity.
Day and night dreaming and castle-building are bad and exceed-
ingly dangerous habits. When once established, it is next to impossible
to break up such habits, and direct the thoughts to pure, holy, elevated
themes. You will have to become a faithful sentinel over your eyes,
ears, and all your senses, if you would control your mind, and prevent
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