14
A Solemn Appeal
that repentance which is acceptable to God, that godly sorrow which
worketh repentance unto salvation, not to be repented of, the work
will be thorough, the reform certain. They will not feel sorrow merely
because their sins are known; but they will view their sinful practices
in their aggravated character, and will be led to confess them to God,
without reserve, and will forsake them. They will feel to sorrow for
their wrong course, because they have displeased God, and sinned
against him, and dishonored their bodies before Him who created
them, and has required them to present their bodies a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable unto him, which is their reasonable service.
“What! know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For
ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God’s.”
1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
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You should present encouragements before your children that a
merciful God will accept true heart repentance, and will bless their
endeavors to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit. As Satan sees that he is losing control over the minds of your
children, he will strongly tempt them and seek to bind them to continue
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to practice this bewitching vice. But with a firm purpose they must
resist Satan’s temptations to indulge the animal passions, because it
is sin against God. They should not venture on forbidden ground,
where Satan can claim control over them. If they in humility entreat
God for purity of thought, and a refined and sanctified imagination,
he will hear them, and grant their petitions. God has not left them to
perish in their sins, but will help the weak and helpless, if they cast
themselves in faith upon him. Those who have been in the practice of
secret indulgence until they have prostrated their physical and mental
strength, may never fully recover from the result of the violation of
nature’s laws; but their only salvation in this world, and that which
is to come, depends upon entire reform. Every deviation is making
recovery more hopeless. None should be discouraged if they perceive
no decided improvement in their health after the habit has been broken
off for quite a length of time. If nature’s laws have not been too long
abused, she will carry on her restoring process, although it may not
be immediately realized. But some have so long abused nature that
she cannot recover entirely. Such must reap as long as they live, to a
greater or less degree, the fruit of their doings.
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