Early Religious Education.
By Jesse Hestand
So strong are the prejudices of many at the present day against everything that differs from their own ideas of Bible doctrine and practice that they will neither read nor hear anything unless they know that it has the sanction of the sect to which they belong. Such a course is contrary to the spirit of the gospel. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good,” or true, is a gospel precept, and breathes the spirit of candid investigation. The Bereans searched the Scriptures to gain their ideas of religious truth, and did not rely on Paul’s authority alone; and he commended them for it. If those who hear present truth preached to-day would submit what they hear to the test of God’s word, they would soon be convinced of the Sabbath and kindred truths. But many people can hardly be said to use their own judgment in matters of religion. We may guess pretty correctly their religious principles when we know what their parents believed, or what kind of society they have lived in, as these circumstances give character to their religious opinions. But truth is to be sought with diligence, pains, and prayer. “If,” says Solomon, “thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding, if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as hid treasure; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Prov. 2:3-5. In order to understand the word of God, we must adhere to the plain, simple, and ordinary meaning of words and phrases that are used by the Spirit of God to convey to us the mind of God in the Scriptures. The errors and divisions which exist among the different sects, are not owing to any want of plainness in the teaching of the Scriptures, or any want of harmony in the doctrines taught therein. The causes of these divisions are in those who read for the purpose of finding some testimony to sustain some doctrine of their early training. They are not free and independent thinkers. They do not ask the question, Why do I believe this? or, What reason can I give for my belief? Did father find this in the Bible? If he did, I can also find it, and, if I cannot find it, then I must accept what the Bible teaches, and give up custom and tradition, and no longer wrest the Scriptures from their true meaning and to my own destruction. Palestine, Ill., Nov. 2, 1874.