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Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work
high claims of the law of God, and as to their responsibility before
Him. The lessons that should be presented to them should be of such
a character as would qualify them for usefulness in this life, and for a
place in the future, immortal kingdom.
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I
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command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach
them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when
thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” These words plainly define
the duty of parents and teachers; and if they will follow this instruction,
they will not fail to see the best results. How different would have been
the scriptural record of the history of Israel, a nation so highly favored
of the Lord, if they had carried out the instruction given them from the
pillar of cloud by the Son of the living God. But they did not diligently
follow the admonitions given. They failed to teach their children the
requirements of God; and the sad results are pictured before us in a
nation rejected of God. They separated so far from the wisdom of God
that when the great Teacher, Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, appeared,
they cried, “Away with Him!” The tradition of men was more highly
revered than the commandments of God. False practises and human
inventions had taken the place of the pure teaching of God. That which
was to have become a part of their being, was regarded as of small
consequence and little worth.
When Christ came into the world to exemplify true religion, and
to exalt the principles that should govern the hearts and actions of
men, falsehood had taken so deep a hold upon those who had had so
great light, that they no longer comprehended the light, and had no
inclination to yield up tradition for truth. They rejected the heavenly
Teacher, they crucified the Lord of glory, that they might retain their
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own customs and inventions. The very same spirit is manifested in the
world today. Men are averse to investigating truth, lest their traditions
should be disturbed, and a new order of things should be brought
in. There is with humanity a constant liability to err, and men are
naturally inclined to highly exalt human ideas and knowledge, while
the divine and eternal is not discerned or appreciated. To those who
were unprejudiced, the words of Christ were as the light from heaven.
“He spake as never man spake.” As the great Teacher presented the