A Time for all Things by A. P. VH.

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Oct 10, 1865

A Time for all Things.

By A. P. VH.

THIS is an excellent rule to reduce to practice in every day life. Order, promptness, and punctuality are taught us in the Scriptures; and we think the following remarks of O. S. Fowler will be acceded to by our friends generally. A. P. VH.

“There is a TIME for all things,” and all things should transpire in their season. Is it not important that the sun, moon, and stars rise and set to their appointed second? What confusion would their irregularity cause throughout the universe? Does nature regulate her operation by keeping the most PERFECT time, and shall not man, the highest of her works, also observe a corresponding periodicity? Was this institution created in vain, or man adapted to it for nought? If nature without timeing her operations, would be rendered so imperfect as to be valueless, shall man mar his nature and blast his happiness by not observing times and seasons? And since periodicity in her is so incalculably beneficial in all her operations, shall not man also follow her teachings by observing that regularity of which she sets so perfect a pattern?

Let us all, then, follow this teaching and requisition of nature. LET US APPROPRIATE OR LAY OUT all our time, and then adhere strictly to such appropriations. Let us appoint a specified time to rise, breakfast, dine, sup, study, transact business, and even particular kinds, recreate, retire, and prosecute every avocation of life. Than this, few things are more promotive of health, happiness, and even life itself; for where is the aged person whose habits are not regular, or what tends to prolong life more than regularity of habits? How incalculably more, also, we can accomplish as well as enjoy by pursuing this regularity? Have no time for anything, and what loss of time, derangement of affairs, and perpetual confusion ensue? But how appointing particular times in which to do particular things, facilitates dispatch, and institutes perfect clockwork throughout all the habits and operations of life!

Since this periodicity is thus important in eating, sleeping, business, and the like, is it not as much more so when applied to the higher faculties as their functions are more exalted? Should we not, then, set apart particular TIMES for the exercise of intellect and moral sentiment, and even for each one of these higher faculties? And these seasons ought to be DAILY. In fact, no day should be allowed to pass without our improving certain portions of it in cultivating these God-like powers. Indeed, these noblest functions of our nature should take PRIORITY in occupying our time. We should appropriate certain hours daily to reading, reflection, the cultivation of memory, and, above all, to the worship of God. Nor hours in the day merely, but days in the week and year. The observance of religious sabbaths, festivals, fasts, and ceremonies, not only coincides with the nature of man, but is absolutely necessary to perfect that nature.

Since regularity of personal and business habits is so indispensable in adults, its early formation in children is equally important. Begin in the very cradle. Put them to bed at particular hours, and they will soon fall asleep spontaneously when their time arrives, and also awaken at just such times every day. Feed them regularly and they will never tease for, nor require food between meals, indulgence in which is decidedly injurious. And thus of every thing else. The power and utility of habits thus formed, are incalculable. Even indifferent habits well followed become beneficial. How much more, then, those that are good IN THEMSELVES? Mothers by as much as you love your children—by as much as you desire their prosperity and even life—mark and follow this direction. It will even save you a vast amount of time and trouble, as it will them of ill-temper and even temptation to sin. You are not permitted to confer many equally great blessings on them. Better form one good habit in a child than leave it a legacy of millions. That child who has been trained up to regularity is richer than Solomon and Crœsus together. But poor indeed is that youth, however large his property, who has no such fixed periodicity of habits. Liable even to become vicious, which well-established habits, especially of retiring, would prevent. In short, few things in the training of children are equally important, or even in perfecting our own characters as adults. Do not these remarks commend themselves to the experience and the common sense of all who have either? Will not all commence their vigorous practice FORTHWITH, and continue it through life?