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Special Testimonies On Education
and passions are to be brought under control of the conscience and the
spiritual affections.
The word of God is to be the foundation of all study, and the words
of revelation, carefully studied, appeal to and strengthen the intellect
as well as the heart. The culture of the intellect is required, that we
may understand the revelation of the will of God to us. It cannot
be neglected by those who are obedient to his commandment. God
has not given us the faculties of the mind to be devoted to cheap and
frivolous pursuits.
The case of Daniel is an instructive one. Daniel was taught by God,
and he co-operated with God. He exerted all his powers to work out his
own salvation, and God worked in him, to will and to do according to
His good pleasure. Of Daniel and his companions it is written, “As for
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these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
These youth were sincere, faithful Christians. True education must be
all-sided, not one-sided. Such an education Daniel and his fellows were
determined to have. They sought to acquire knowledge for a purpose—
to honor and glorify God. They must perfect a Christian character,
and have a clear intellect, in order to stand as the representatives of
the true religion amid the false religions of heathenism. To them the
will of God was the supreme law of life. They practised temperance in
eating and drinking, that they might not enfeeble brain or muscle. In
order to preserve health, they felt that they must avoid the luxuries of
the king’s table, and they would not partake of wine or any stimulating
drink. Under God they were in perfect training, that all their faculties
might do highest service for him. God required these youth to keep
themselves from idols.
The religion of Jesus Christ never degrades the receiver, it never
makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate
or hard-hearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the
judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, by bringing them
into captivity to Jesus Christ. God’s ideal for his children is higher
than the highest human thought can reach. The living God has given
in his holy law a transcript of his character. The greatest teacher the
world has ever known is Jesus Christ. And what is the standard he has
given for all who believe in him to reach? - “Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” As God is perfect in
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