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Special Testimonies On Education
influence on the formation of character. If they are of the right stamp,
and if, as the child advances in years, they are followed up with patient
perseverance, the earthly and eternal destinies will be shaped for good.
This is the word of the Lord, “Train up a child in the way he should
go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
.
Parents, give your children to the Lord, and ever keep it before
their minds that they belong to him, that they are lambs of Christ’s
flock, watched over by the true Shepherd. Hannah dedicated Samuel
to the Lord; and it is said of him, “Samuel grew, and the Lord was with
him, and did let none of his words [the Lord’s words through Samuel]
fall to the ground.”
1 Samuel 3:19
. In the case of this prophet and
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judge in Israel are presented the possibilities that are placed before a
child whose parents co-operate with God, doing their appointed work.
Children are a heritage of the Lord, and are to be trained for his
service. This is the work that rests upon parents and teachers with
solemn, sacred force, which they cannot evade or ignore. To neglect
this work marks them as unfaithful servants; but there is a reward
when the seed of truth is early sown in the heart, and carefully tended.
Christ concludes the parable, “But when the fruit is brought forth,
immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
When the harvest of the earth is reaped, we shall see the result of our
toil; for we shall see those for whom we have labored and prayed
gathered into the heavenly garner. So shall we enter into the joy of our
Lord, when he shall “see of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied.”
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