Gather the Crumbs by H. F. Phelps

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1873

Gather the Crumbs.

By H. F. Phelps

“The world [cause] wants men, large-hearted, manly men, who shall join its chorus and prolong its song of labor and of love.”

“The times [cause] want scholars.”

“The times [cause] want heroes, heroes who shall dare to struggle in the solid ranks of truth, to clutch the monster error by the throat.”

The cause of God, of truth, wants just such men. Who can fail to see this? Where are those large-hearted, manly men, who are wanted to guide the ship aright, who are willing to stand up and take the burdens at the head of the work? Where are the scholars, scholars in the word of God, and who are not deficient in the knowledge of the world even? Where are the zealous Peters? the learned Pauls? and the lovely Johns who must not be wanting? Where are the heroes, the soldiers who shall gird on the whole armor of truth, and be willing to go forth in the service of the Master, calling sinners from the error of their ways? Come, brethren, let us fall into the ranks, each try to get into his proper place, and then all pull together. Then, and not till then, may we expect this cause to move with that power with which we are ardently desiring to see it move. May God help us to awake out of sleep and watch.

HABIT.

“The chains of habit are generally too small to be noticed till they are too strong to be broken.”

“There are men who are brave enough to storm a breach who are not brave enough to tell the truth.”

“There are heroes who can bear unflinchingly the pain caused by the amputation of the limbs who cannot, or do not, break the miserable little habit of petulance or profanity.”

There are those who are brave enough to face every danger who dare not face the power of appetite and throw away the soul-and-body-destroying weed, tobacco. But, thanks to God and the power of a living truth, there are some who can by faith in his name overcome this foe even.

DOMESTIC LEGISLATION.

In an article with the above heading, in Hearth and Home, are a few thoughts worthy of copying: “The mistake that nearly all of us make, is that of regarding parental authority as something belonging to the parent alone, for his own ease and comfort; when, in fact, it is something given to the parent for the good of the children alone. And every bit of exercise of authority over the children which is not designed to promote that child’s present and future well-being, is simply a bit of domestic tyranny. The right of the child is just as sacred as that of the parent.”

Yes, says one; but I must make my child do right. There is just the place, brethren, where so many of us fail. We try to make too much. True, the will must be subdued. But let us cease so much making them do in our own strength. Let us carry them to the Master, and let us first tell him all about our own faults, then those of our children, and then try to restrain them in love. Teach them to do right, not make them. Punish them, if need be, but in love, and we must be sure that we are not the one most at fault. The same writer says again, “It is our duty, in childhood, to exercise them in the art of self-government. Not only teach them to do right, but what is right, and afterward, why certain things are right, and why certain things are wrong. Teach them the necessity of following the leadings of right from their own free will, and not always from compulsion.” I confess my failure here, and resolve to do better.

A WORD TO PARENTS.

“Parents often see their own faults reflected in their children, and want to break the glass. The fault is not in the mirror, but in the object before it.” Pause and reflect on this. When we see our children doing wrong, let us ask, Have I not set the example? and, if so, confess our faults to them. This will give us strength to overcome, and then we may help them. We need much wisdom to train our children for Heaven. Do not get discouraged, but keep trying, and never say fail.

“Keep pushing, ’tis wiser than sitting aside And dreaming, and sighing, and waiting the tide; In life’s earnest battle they only prevail Who daily march onward and never say fail.”

A WORD TO ALL.

“There are people whose very presence seems to elevate us into a higher atmosphere. Choose such associates.” Why should any of our brethren choose for constant associates those whose influence can but be debasing. We would warn such, Beware. “Evil communications corrupt good manners.” “He that walketh with the wise, shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.”

H. F. PHELPS.

Milton, Minn.