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SAVE THE CHILDREN

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 17, 1901

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 78, No. 51.

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SAVE THE CHILDREN.

By M. A. Price

M. A. PRICE.
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; . . . for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? . . . Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord.”
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.” “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Read also Lam. 2: 11, 18, 19.
“Those who neglect the light and instruction which God has given in His word in regard to training their children and commanding their households after them, will have a fearful account to settle. Aaron’s criminal neglect to command the respect and reverence of his sonsresulted in their death. . . . He was priest of his household; yet he had been inclined to pass over the folly of his children. He had neglected his duty to train and educate them to obedience, self-denial, and reverence for parental authority. Through feelings of misplaced indulgence, he failed to mold their characters with high reverence for eternal things. Aaron did not see, any more than many Christian parents now see, that his misplaced love and the indulgence of his children in wrong, was preparing them for the certain displeasure of God, and for His wrath to break forth upon them to their destruction. . . . Aaron had to learn that his gentle remonstrance, without a firm exercise of parental restraint, and his imprudent tenderness toward his sons, were cruelty in the extreme.” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. III, pages 294, 295.
“My brethren, God calls upon you as His followers to walk in the light. You need to be alarmed. Sin is among us, and it is not seen to be exceedingly sinful.” — Id., page 476. “It is no time now for lightness, vanity, or trifling. The scenes of this earth’s history are soon to close.” — Id., page 474.
The mothers of to-day stand in great need of constant communion with God. Let them “lift up their hands toward Him for the life of their young children.” Let parents “cry out in the night,” Spare our children, O Lord. Let fathers weep and mourn for their whole household. It is high time to be awake, for the enemy of righteousness has set traps for even the smallest ones.
“They [the mothers] may mold the minds of their children, and shape their characters so that they may be useful in this world, and that they may become sons and daughters of God. . . . There is enough necessary and important labor in this world of need and suffering without wasting precious moments for ornamentation or display. . . . Those who are engaged in this work will not be satisfied with the fashions and follies which absorb the mind and affections of women in these last days.” — Id., pages 483, 484.
“Samuel was a child surrounded by the most corrupting influences. He saw and heard things that grieved his soul. . . . He did not fellowship, or have the least delight in, the sins which filled all Israel with fearful reports. Samuel loved God; he kept his soul in such close connection with Heaven that an angel was sent to talk with him in reference to the sins of Eli’s sons, which were corrupting Israel.” — Id., page 472.
“Some parents are in subjection to their children. They fear to cross the will of their children, and therefore yield to them. . . . The salvation of children depends very much upon the course pursued by the parents. In their mistaken love and fondness for their children, many parents indulge them to their hurt, nourish their pride, and put upon them trimmings and ornaments which make them vain, and lead them to think that dress makes the lady or gentleman. . . . Those who love meekness, humility, and virtue, should shun such society, even if it be Sabbath-keepers’ children. Their company is poisonous, their influence leads to death. Parents realize not the destructive influence of the seed which they are sowing. . . .
“In these last days children are so noted for their disobedience and disrespect that God has especially noticed it, and it constitutes a sign that the end is near. It shows that Satan has almost complete control of the minds of the young. . . . Again I was directed to the condition of the young in these last days. Children are not controlled. . . . Some children, as they grow older, think it a matter of course that they must have their own way, and that their parents must submit to their wishes. They expect their parents to wait upon them. . . . The curse of God will surely rest upon unfaithful parents. Not only are they planting thorns which will wound them here, but they must meet their unfaithfulness when the judgment shall sit. Many children will rise up in judgment and condemn their parents for not restraining them, and charge upon them their destruction.” — Id., Vol. I, pages 216-219.
“Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” Jer. 10:2. “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Mal. 3:3.
“Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?” Amos 3:6. May the trumpet be blown loud enough to save the children.