PARENTS AND THE SABBATH-SCHOOL.
By J. G. Wood
In all ages of the world, it has been the duty of parents to teach their children to love, fear, and reverence God, and to keep his commandments. Had this always been faithfully done, what a vast amount of crime of every character, and distress of mind, and eternal condemnation, the human family would have been spared. The fundamental principles of truth are the same in all ages; but the allurements to vice increase as we enter the perils of the last days. The command to the Hebrews was: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart.” “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy 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.” Deut. 6:5-7. Read also Deut. 4:9; 11:19; Deut. 18:19, and especially Ps. 78:5, 6. The seventh verse tells us why the Lord is thus particular that we should teach our children to love and reverence him,—“That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.” We see how particular the Lord was with his people in that age of the world, when he that cursed and blasphemed God (Lev. 24:11, 16) was not permitted to live upon the earth, but was put to death, as was also the Sabbath-breaker (Ex. 31:14, 15); and the “stubborn and rebellious son,” who would not “obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother;” and the one that was “a glutton, and a drunkard” (Deut. 21:18-20); and when, in short, all that would presumptuously transgress the commands of God (Num. 15:30, 31) were cut off from society, so that children were not under their influence. And how much greater is the responsibility of the people of God to bring up their children in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4), when they are obliged to associate more or less with many who violate God’s holy day, take his name in vain, and often curse their father and mother. Sins are fostered in the professed church of God, which should be the guide of our youth, that forty years ago would have shocked the moral sensibilities of the whole community. I refer to festivals, grab-bags, fishing-ponds, mock post-offices, etc., which are resorted to to raise money for the support of the gospel; and they have the audacity to ask Christ to meet with them. “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness.” 2 Tim. 3:5, 6. In view of this popular and almost unrestrained current of immorality and vice, is it not high time that we should awake to the salvation of our children? You may ask, What can I do? Let all the preachers and directors in our State (Missouri) talk up the interest of the Sabbath-school wherever they go, and encourage each company they visit to take hold of this work in earnest. Let each Sabbath-keeping family attend the Sabbath-school with the children whenever it is possible for them to do so; and let them see that the lessons are well learned. Try to encourage your superintendent, teachers, and children, and to make your school one of interest. Those who live at too great a distance from the church should have a Sabbath-school at home. The Instructor is now published weekly. Each number contains two lessons, one for the children, and one for the youth. Each family of S. D. Adventists should have at least one copy of the Instructor, and more if you are able to take it to send to your friends. A club of five costs only 60 cents each, and ten copies can be had for fifty cents each. See that the children have the paper, and all the help you can give them; and when they find that you are really interested in their welfare, you will soon have the pleasure of seeing them interested in their school and lessons. They will look forward to the Sabbath with delight; and you will have done your duty to lead them to Christ, who taketh away the sins of the world. Wadesburgh, Mo., March 27.