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Appendix B Typical Temperance Addresses By Ellen G. White
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Jesus to bless my children,” then another would join the company,
and still another, and so on until quite a little group came to Jesus
with their children. As they came to where Jesus was, He caught the
sound. He knew when they had first left. Jesus Christ sympathized
with these mothers. As they brought their little ones to Jesus, He
said, “Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not:
for of such is the kingdom of God.” Parents, take hold; the gates are
ajar.
The tone of voice that you use is a means of educating your
children. No one ever knows all the troubles that the little hands
give. Mothers, there is One who knows all—that is, the God of
heaven. Every day that you fulfill your duties, mothers, the words
“Conqueror through Christ Jesus” are written opposite your names.
What barriers are you going to build up against their souls? Do not
threaten them with the wrath of God if they do wrong, but bring
them in your prayers to Christ. Have your home as attractive as you
can have it. Put back the drapery and let heaven’s doctor in, which
is sunlight. You want peace and quiet in your homes. You want your
children to have beautiful characters. Make home so attractive that
they will not want to go to the saloon. Show them the flowers and
leaves of the tree. Tell them that God made every spire of grass,
and gave the beautiful tints to every flower. Tell them that here is
the expression of God’s love to you, that this is the voice of God
speaking to you that He loves you.
Homes Like Abraham’s
—You want your homes to be like
Abraham’s. He commanded his household after him. He taught
them to obey the commands of God. These are the lessons, mothers,
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that you are to patiently teach your children. You cannot afford to
spend time in studying the fashions of the day. Teach them that they
are Christ’s property. We are making characters today. Young men,
young women, you are determining your lot in the future today. Let
Christ come in. He will preserve you from temptation.
Tobacco is undermining the constitutions of many. It is entering
into the fluids and solids of the body. We have known tobacco
devotees cured of this vile habit. My husband and I founded a health
institution in America. The testimony from those that treated the
tobacco patients was alarming. They told of the alarming effluvia
in the baths and on the treatment sheets. But they were brought on