关于巴特尔克里克教会的特别证言
亲爱的泰伯弟兄和姐妹：
我除了不能耽搁的急信什么都不写已经有段时间了。数月以来有一种令我心情沮丧的重担几乎把我压垮了。最令我灰心的就是担心我所写的一切不会比我们去年冬天和今年春天在巴特尔克里克恳切、忧虑、疲乏的辛劳更有益处。我对巴特尔克里克的问题和事态的绝望看法几乎令我停笔，我的声音也几乎止息了。看到在那里拖长的努力毫无所获，令我手软心疲。我们的努力在成功地唤醒我们守安息日的信徒的感受力，使他们看到上帝要他们居于的高尚地位吗?我对此几乎感到绝望。他们不从高尚的立场看宗教的事。这就是你们的状况。{PH085 1.1}
上帝使我大致看到各处都有的一些败坏。甚至在高层都有邪恶、罪行和淫荡。连自称遵守上帝诫命的各教会中，也有罪人和假冒为善的人。使上帝与祂子民分离，使人心无法喜爱并尊荣上帝的，不是试炼和痛苦，而是罪。正在毁灭生灵的乃是罪。在遵守安息日的家庭中，也存在着罪与恶习。道德污染比其它各种邪恶更使人类堕落。今人犯此恶习，已达惊人地步，并引起了几乎各种各式的疾病。甚至小孩、婴幼儿，生下来就有性器官的兴奋，以玩弄来获一时之快。这只能增加刺激，导致一再行之，直至养成了恶习，与生俱长。这些儿童身材普遍矮小瘦弱，有医生开方诊治，也服用了药物。{PH085 1.2}
但未去除病根。病因仍然存在。父母们普遍没有想到自己的儿女有此恶习。在许多情形下，父母本身才是真正的罪人。他们滥用婚姻的权利，恣情纵欲，因放纵而增强了自己的兽性情欲。低级的情欲增强之后，道德与智力的功能便被消弱。兽情压制了灵性。儿女生来就有了大量发育的兽欲，因为父母已把自己品性的印记传给了他们。那些敏感器官的不正常举动产生了刺激。它们容易兴奋，且因习练而体验到一时之快。但是罪恶在不断增长。身体精力的消耗非常明显。脑力被削弱，记忆力也缺乏了。这些父母生出的儿女几乎总是天生就有可厌的隐秘恶习。婚约是神圣的，但在它掩盖之下的纵欲和罪恶又是何其多啊!那些以为结婚之后便可随意放纵兽性情欲，败坏自己身体的人，必将看到自己的堕落行为在儿女身上得到延续。父母的罪将报应在其儿女身上，因为父母已将自己淫荡习性的印记传给了他们。{PH085 2.1}
那些久已养成此种摧残身心之恶习的人，若不把这种隐秘的恶习传给与自己交往的人，便不罢休。好奇心立时被引起，此种恶习，便在青年与青年，儿童与儿童之间，彼此传播，直到几乎所有人都熟知了这种令人堕落的恶习。{PH085 3.1}
你们的孩子已经习练了手淫，以致脑力很是枯竭，特别是你们的长子，结果他们的心智严重受损。他们的青春才智光辉已经黯淡。道德力和智力已经削弱，而本性中的低级部分却一直在占据优势。{PH085 3.2}
因此，你们的儿子极其厌恶虔诚的和属灵的事情。他正在丧失自制的能力，越来越不敬畏神圣的事，越来越不尊重具有属灵性质的事。你将这等情形归因于环境，但你并不了解真实原因。可以说你的儿子身上带有撒但的记号，而非神圣的印记。他喜爱罪恶，不喜爱真正的良善、纯洁和公义。这真是一幅可叹的情景。{PH085 4.1}
这种下流恶习的危害，对于各人的影响不尽相同。有些儿童，道德能力已经大大发育，只因与有手淫恶习的儿童们交往，便开始陷入这种恶习。对于这些儿童，手淫往往会使他们悲伤忧郁，容易受到刺激，嫉妒猜忌;但他们对于宗教上的礼拜也许仍会尊重，对于属灵的事也许不会表示特别不忠。他们有时会因悔恨而深感痛苦，并且自视下流堕落，失去了自尊心。{PH085 4.2}
弟兄和姐妹啊，你们在上帝面前罪责难逃。你们没有尽到在自己家中应尽的义务。你们没有约束自己的孩子。你们没能了解和遵行上帝的旨意，因此祂的福分也就无法临到你们家里了。泰伯弟兄啊，你向来是自私的。你很自尊自大。你以为自己相当谦卑，但你没有自知之明。你的道路在上帝眼前不正。你的影响和榜样与你的表白不符。你敏于觉察别人的错误，很能看出别人哪里作的不对，却看不到自己有同样的缺点错误。{PH085 4.3}
泰伯姐妹离上帝太远了。她的心并未因恩典而折服。她爱这个世界和世界上的事，而爱上帝的心就此止息了。她喜爱穿着和外表的装扮，这使她无心行善，使她的思想感情集中在这些无聊轻佻的事上。不信之念在她心中一直在增强，她越来越不喜爱真理，看不到真敬虔的纯朴有什么吸引力。有也无法对她产生任何吸引力。{PH085 5.1}
她没有鼓励自己在基督徒的美德上长进。她不喜爱谦卑或献身。她指出那些自称献身真理之人的错误，将他们属灵上的缺乏，他们的错误和罪恶作为自己爱世界的藉口。她监视那些在出版社作工之人和热心负起教会责任之人的举动，用他们的错误抵销自己的失败，说自己不比他们差。某某在教会有名望的人做了这事或那事，她也与他们一样有权利去做。W，S或其他某个弟兄没有过健康改良的生活，比她好不到哪里去。他们也买肉吃，而他们是教会里身居高位的人，既有这等榜样，她就当然有藉口也去做了。用别人的错误作挡箭牌，疏忽遵行上帝所赐亮光的人，并非仅此一例。对于有才智的男女来说，标准比有缺陷的人还低，乃是可耻的。可是有些人，不管周围的人行事多么不完全，都足以作他们也去做的藉口。许多人会被A弟兄，或W弟兄，或S弟兄，或其他人的影响所左右。如果这些人偏离上帝的旨意，未献身的人就会立刻欢喜地抓住他们作出的榜样，觉得自己可以不受约束了。他们现在有藉口了，他们未献上的心得意于有机会放纵自己的欲望，走更亲近世俗精神的一步，得以享受世界的快乐，放纵他们的食欲。于是，他们便将那些不是很健康的食物摆上自己的桌子，那些东西是他们已经受教要禁绝的，以便保持他们自己在更加健康的状态。{PH085 5.2}
自从开始推行健康改良，一些人心中便起了争战。当初以色列人从埃及往迦南去的路上，曾因食欲受到约束而心中叛逆，如今他们的情形和当年的以色列人是一样的。自称跟从基督的人，既然一生都考虑自己的快乐和自己的兴趣，自己的安逸和自己的食欲，就没有预备好改变自己的行动方针，为了上帝的荣耀而生活，效法他们无误的榜样耶稣基督的自我牺牲的生活。上帝已将一个完美的榜样赐给基督徒去效法。基督门徒的言行应当成为真理与圣洁的纯净原则传向世人的管道。基督的门徒乃是世上的盐、世上的光。{PH085 7.1}
泰伯姐妹啊，你忽略了自己的本分，还将别人的错误当作安抚自己良心的膏油，你不知道自己因此丧失了多少福分。你一直在用别人衡量自己。他们邪僻的道路，他们的失败，一直是你的课本。然而，他们的错误，他们的愚蠢和罪恶，却无法使你的悖逆在上帝眼中减罪分毫!{PH085 7.2}
我们感到很惋惜，有些人本应成为你的力量，帮助你克胜爱自己的心，骄傲的心，虚荣心和爱受世人赞许的心，却因他们自己的缺乏灵性和真敬虔而成了你的障碍。我们无法告诉你我们有多惋惜，那些应该舍己的基督徒实在远远没有达到标准。那些本应在上帝的圣工上坚定丰满的人，却被撒但削弱了，因为他们与上帝保持着非常远的距离。他们没能获得上帝恩典的能力，藉以克服本性的软弱，并且藉着在上帝里获得的显著胜利，向那些信心更软弱的人指明道路、真理和生命。最令我们感到灰心的，就是看到巴特尔克里克那些在上帝圣工上有长期经验的人因不忠而剥夺了自己的力量。他们与仇敌交锋几乎阵阵皆败。上帝本愿意使这些人刚强，像忠心的哨兵坚守自己的岗位，保卫要塞，只要他们行在上帝所赐给他们的亮光中，始终坚守本分，力求知道和遵行上帝全部的旨意。撒但无疑会藉着他的骗局欺骗这些失职的人，使他们以为自己终究是对的，以为自己没有犯过滔天大罪，必定终究是在正确的根基上，上帝也会悦纳他们的工作。他们看不到有什么特别的罪需要悔改，看不到有什么罪需要他们特别羞愧，谦卑地认罪，撕裂心肠。{PH085 8.1}
这种人受的欺骗确实强烈，他们错把敬虔的形式当成了敬虔的能力，自以为富足，一样都不缺。对米罗斯的咒诅在他们身上：“应当咒诅米罗斯，大大咒诅其中的居民，因为他们不来帮助耶和华，不来帮助耶和华攻击勇士”(士5:23)。{PH085 9.1}
我的姐妹啊，不要因为别人的错误而原谅自己的缺点。在上帝的日子，你不会胆敢为自己疏忽预备适合天国的品格辩护，说别人没有表现出献身和灵性。你在别人身上发现的缺乏你自己也有。别人是罪人的事实不能减轻你的罪恶。他们和你若继续不相称的现状，就会与基督隔绝，且会与撒但和他的使者一起受永远灭亡的惩罚，离开耶和华的面和祂权能的荣耀。{PH085 9.2}
主已经为你作了充足的预备。你若愿意寻求祂，并跟随祂所愿意赐给你的亮光，就不会中途掉队。上帝的话赐给你作你脚前的灯，路上的光。你若绊跌，必是因为你没有请教自己的向导——上帝的道，没有以上帝宝贵的圣言为你的人生准则。无论别人的品格何等美好，他的生活多么无可挑剔，上帝都没有让你将其作为你的模范。假如别人如何作，你也如何作，别人如何行，你也如何行，你最终就会被撇弃在上帝圣城之外，跟大群与你做法一样的人在一起，他们随从了上帝没有留给他们的榜样，必与你一同沦丧。{PH085 9.3}
别人做过的事，或者他们将来可能会做的事，都不能减轻你的责任或罪过。上帝已经赐给你一个完美的榜样，祂无瑕无疵的人生是以克己和无私的仁爱为特征的。如果你漠视这个完美正确的榜样，而去跟随错误的榜样，就是上帝圣言明说你要避开的，你就要自食其果;你的人生就会是失败的人生。{PH085 10.1}
巴特尔克里克教会衰退的一个最大原因，就是他们自己衡量自己，自己比较自己。只有很少的人心中有活泼的原则，侍奉上帝，单单注目祂的荣耀。在巴特尔克里克的许多人不愿意按照上帝指定的方式得救。他们怕麻烦，不愿恐惧战兢地做成自己得救的工夫。他们没有这种得救的经验，也不愿不怕麻烦地藉着个人的努力获得这种经验，反而宁愿冒险依赖别人，倚靠别人的经验。他们无法同意警醒祷告，为上帝而活且只为祂而活。他们更喜欢随己意而活。巴特尔克里克教会充满了退后背道的行为，他们无需梦想兴旺起来，除非那些称呼主名的人谨慎地离开一切不义，除非他们学会弃恶择善。上帝要求我们不住地警醒祷告;因为在我们的路上设有陷阱，在我们最料想不到的时候和地方会发现撒但的某种计谋。如果在那个特殊的时刻我们没有警醒祷告，就会被仇敌俘虏，遭受明显的损失。你们作父母的人身上担负着何等重大的责任啊!然而你们又是何等微弱地感受到这种责任啊!内心的骄傲，喜爱炫耀和食欲的放纵已经占据了你们的思想。这些事情对你们来说一直是首要的事，却没有察觉到仇敌的入侵。仇敌已将他的旗帜树立在你们家中，且将他可憎的形像印刻在你们儿女的品格上。但由于你们被这世界的神弄瞎了心眼，以致你们无法察觉撒但在你们身上取得的优势，也分辨不出他正在你们家中进行的工作。你们对于属灵和神圣的事物如此麻木迟钝，以致看不出撒但的作为。{PH085 10.2}
你们把儿女生到世上来，他们对自己的出生没有发言权。对于他们将来的幸福，永恒的福利，你们要负上大部分的责任。这重担已在你们的身上，不论你们是否察觉到这一点，都要为上帝训练这些儿女，警醒注意狡猾仇敌的初次侵袭，随时预备树立旌旗抵御他。须在儿女四围筑起祷告和信心的堡垒，且在那里操练殷勤的守望。面对撒但的攻击，你们没有片刻是安全的。你们没有时间停止警醒认真的工作。你们不应在自己的岗位上睡着片刻。这是一场极其重要的战争，其结果关系永恒。对你和你的家人来说乃是或生或死的问题。你们唯一的保障就是，要在上帝面前破碎己心，像小孩子一样寻求天国。你若依然故我，我行我素，就无法在这场战争中得胜。你离天国不是很近。{PH085 12.1}
一些没有称自己是基督徒的人，倒比巴特尔克里克许多自称遵守安息日的人离上帝的国更近。你们没有保守自己在上帝的爱中，也没有教导自己的儿女敬畏上帝。你们起来，坐下，出去，进来的时候，没有殷勤教导他们真理。你们没有约束他们。你们看着别人家的孩子，自己安慰自己说：“我的孩子不比他们差。”可能确实如此，但别人忽略自己的责任，就能减轻上帝向你们作父母的人所特别发出的要求的效力吗?上帝已将为祂教养这些孩童的责任放在你们肩上，他们的得救在很大程度上取决于他们幼年所受的教育。这项责任别人无法承担;它是单单属于你们作父母之人的。你可以使自己得到所能得到的一切帮助来协助你做这项严肃而重要的工作;但你在这样做了之后，还有一种在一切人力之上的能力，会在你有权使用的媒介里，通过他们并藉着他们来与你同工。上帝必来帮助你，你可以倚赖祂的能力。这种能力是无限的。人力或许不会成功，但上帝能藉着在他们里面运行且藉着他们运行来使他们富有成果。{PH085 12.2}
你们有一番工作要做，要整顿你们的家。纯洁、无罪的天使无法欣然进入你们的住所，那里惯行许多的罪孽。你们在自己的岗上睡着了。次要的事物占据了你们的心，更为重要的事情却没有引起你们的注意。你人生的第一要务应当是寻求天国和它的义;然后你就得着应许，一切都会加给你。你在自己的家中正是在这一点上失败了。要是你曾努力进窄门，你原会认真收集上帝曾允许照在你路上的每一线亮光，也会予以珍惜并且行在其中。你并没有重看上帝恩赐给你的亮光。你对主所赐的健康改良的亮光起了反感。你看不出它有什么重要性，认为没有理由接受它。你不愿意约束自己的食欲。关于上帝在约束食欲上所赐的亮光，你看不出其中有什么智慧。你所能看到的只是克制口味带来的不便。在这末后的日子，主已让祂的光照在我们身上，使那因以往历代犯罪纵欲所积聚的阴郁黑暗可以在某种程度上被驱散，也使那因不节制饮食而导致的连绵祸害得以减少。{PH085 14.1}
上帝本着祂的智慧，想要引导祂的子民达到一种地步，使他们在精神和习惯上与世人分别，他们的儿女也可以不那么轻易被引诱去拜偶像，被现代风行的腐败所毒化。上帝的心意，是要信主的父母和他们的儿女，当站在人前作基督活生生的代表，永生的候选人。凡与上帝的性情有份的人，就必脱离这世上从情欲而来的败坏。那些放纵食欲的人，不可能达到基督徒的完全。你若不对儿女的饮食慎加选择，就无法唤醒他们的道德感。父母为儿女摆设的食物常常成为他们的网罗。他们的饮食不简单，预备的方式也不健康。食物通常很丰腻，会让血液发热，容易刺激胃内壁敏感的黏膜。兽性倾向因而得到加强，道德力和智力却被削弱了。低级的情欲左右了人，道德力和智力却成了卑贱情欲的奴仆。你们应当研究准备简单而有营养的饮食。用各种香料烹制的丰腻的糕饼和馅饼，并不是最健康而有营养的食物。蛋类不应出现在你们家的餐桌上。它们对你们的儿女有害。水果和五谷，以最简单的方式烹饪，便是最健康、最能滋养身体的食物，同时也于智力无损。{PH085 15.1}
规律的饮食对于身体的健康和思想的平静非常重要。你们的孩子应当只在规定的时间进餐，不应让他们偏离这个既定的规则。泰伯姐妹，当你不在家时，你便无法控制这些重要的事情了。你的长子已经削弱了自己的整个身体系统，且为持久的病患打下了基础。你的第二个孩子迅速地步其后尘，你的孩子无一免受这种恶习之害。{PH085 16.1}
关于你们的孩子们的习惯，你们或许无法从他们口中得到实情。那些惯行隐秘恶习的人会说谎和欺骗。你们的孩子会欺骗你们，因为你们没有处在可以知道他们是否企图把你们带入歧途的状况。你们久已被仇敌蒙蔽，以致几乎没有一线亮光可以看透黑暗。你们有一项严肃而重要的大工必须马上去做，就是整顿你们自己的心和你们的家。你们唯一的安全之道就是马上持定这项工作。不要自己欺骗自己，以为这事终究在你们面前被夸大了。我并没有夸大其辞。我陈述的事实会经得起审判的检验。要醒悟!我恳劝你们，在改过迁善为时太晚、你们和你们的儿女在普遍的毁灭中灭亡之前，要醒悟!要持定这项严肃的工作，利用一切你们所能收集到的、照在你们路途上你们却没有珍惜的亮光来帮助你们，加上现在照耀着的亮光的帮助，开始省察自己的生活和品格，就像站在上帝的审判台前一样。使徒有劝勉的话说：“要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的”(彼前2:11)。邪恶和腐败在各方面增多，你们若没有超乎人力之上的力量可以倚靠，去抵抗如此强大的罪恶潮流，就会被这潮流战胜压倒以致灭亡。人非圣洁，就不能见上帝的面。{PH085 16.2}
主正在测试和考验祂的百姓。上帝的使者正在观察着他们品格的发展，权衡他们的道德价值。宽容时期即将结束，而你还未预备妥当。唉，愿警告的话能深入你的内心!要做好准备!做好准备!趁着白日还在，赶紧做工，因为黑夜将到，就没有人能做工了。必有命令发出：圣洁的，叫他仍旧圣洁;污秽的，叫他仍旧污秽。人人的命运都要决定。地上数额巨大的群众中，只有很少的人会得救进入永生，大多数人都没有因顺从真理而完善自己的心灵，所以注定要受第二次的死。救主啊，求祢拯救祢的血所买来的人!这是我痛苦的心中发出的呼求!我很为你和巴特尔克里克教会许多自称相信真理的人担忧。你们要殷勤省察自己的心，为审判下彻底的工夫!{PH085 17.1}
我一想到多少守安息日父母的儿女，正在因那隐秘的恶习而毁坏身心，便感到心痛。你们家附近便有一个家庭，他们的身心都显出了邪恶的习惯。S.B.沃伦家的孩子们正在直接通向灭亡的路上。他们在作贱自己，还教唆许多人染上了这种恶习。那家的长子因沉湎于这种恶习，身心都发育不全。而他仅剩下的那点智力，又是何等低下啊!他若继续放纵这种恶习，最终会变成白痴。处于发育阶段的儿童的每一种放纵，都是一种可怕的罪恶，会产生可怕的结果，削弱身体和智力。但对于那些尚未发育的儿童，沉湎于这种腐败恶习的恶果更加显著，几乎没有希望可以复原。他们的体格软弱矮小;肌肉松弛;眼睛变小，时常显得浮肿;记忆力不可靠，丢三落四;学习时无法集中思想;记忆变得像筛子一样。我要对这些儿童的父母说：你们将孩子带到这世界上来，徒令他们成为这个社会的咒诅。你们的孩子不服管教，焦躁易怒，喜好争吵，品格邪恶。他们对别人影响是败坏的。他们带有父亲卑鄙情欲的印记。他品格的印记印在他的孩子们身上。他们身上反映着父亲那急噪、暴戾的性情。这些父母早就应当搬迁到乡下去，从而使自己和儿女断绝与那些只能使他们受害而不能受益之人的交往。{PH085 18.1}
农场的辛勤劳作对这些孩子来说反倒是一种福分，而且他们体力所能承受的长期工作，原会使他们少有机会去藉手淫败坏自己的身体，也会防止他们教唆许多人染上这种地狱般的恶习。劳动对于所有儿童来说都是大福气，对于那等心思天生倾向于邪恶和堕落的儿童尤其如此。巴特尔克里克的这些儿童在一起交流时获得的邪恶知识，是那里自称敬虔的传道人和信徒所有联合一致的努力也无法抵消的。许多从你们的儿女学得恶习的孩子宁愿灭亡也不控制他们的情欲，终止这种罪恶的放纵。一个败坏的心思能在短期内播下恶种，使许多人终其一生也无法完全清除。你们的孩子已经成为许多亵渎真理者口中的笑柄。这些是守安息日之人的子女，但他们比一般世俗之人的孩子更坏。他们少有文雅，更少自尊。沃伦弟兄对于上帝的圣工来说决非荣耀。他那冲动的脾气和一般的影响不能提拔人，反倒将人带到一种低下的水准。上帝的圣工因他缺乏理智的判断和文雅的态度而大受羞辱。他们的家庭若早点退居到一个较为次要的岗位上，他们若能更为隐蔽，更少影响，原会对真理的事业好得多。他们的儿女早就拥有了亮光，且有很少儿童所能获得的特权;但他们始终没有受益，却在堕落中变得越来越刚硬。搬走对这个家庭来说会更好，因为在土地上稳定的劳作会对父亲和孩子是一个福气，只要他们愿意受益于农场生活。他们搬走对教会和社会来说都会是一个福气。{PH085 19.1}
我看到戴格纽弟兄的家庭需要为自己做成一番重要的工作。塞缪尔和查理已竭尽全力犯这种手淫的罪行;查理尤其如此，他因长久犯此罪恶，以致智力受损，视力减弱，疾病缠身。撒但几乎已经完全控制了这个可怜男孩的心思，他的父母却没有醒悟，看不到这种罪恶及其恶果。他的心思下贱，良心刚硬，道德感迟钝，他将很容易成为牺牲品，因为与邪恶的友伴交往而导致罪恶和罪行。戴弟兄和姐妹，我请求你们要醒悟过来!你们还没有接受健康改良的亮光，也没有予以实行。你们如果约束了自己的食欲，原会免除许多额外的操劳和费用;尤为重要的是，这样会保持你们的身体处于更佳的健康状况，并有更大的体力和智力来赏识永恒的真理，有更清楚的头脑来权衡真理的证据，有更佳的预备，给别人说明你们心中盼望的缘由。你们的食物，不是那些简单的、健康的、能够制造良好血液的食物。不洁的血液必定蒙蔽道德力和智力，激起并加强你们本性中低级的情欲。你们谁也不可采用一种令人血液发热的饮食，因为那会牺牲身体的健康和你们自己的灵魂及你们儿女灵魂的兴旺。{PH085 21.1}
你们摆在餐桌上的食物，使消化器官过劳，激发兽性情欲，削弱道德和理智能力。丰腻的食品和肉食，对于你们乃是无益的。要是你们知道自己所吃肉食的性质，要是你们能见到动物的生活，以及其死后肉被宰割为食物的情形，你们就会产生厌弃肉食的心。你所吃其肉的动物，往往是患病很重的，纵使人不宰杀，它们也会自己死的。可是人却趁它们一息尚存之时，将它们宰杀，运到市场。你们是在把最坏的那种体液和毒素直接送进体内，而自己竟不知道。你们喜爱放纵食欲。你们有这个功课要学：“所以，你们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀上帝而行”(林前10:31)。{PH085 22.1}
我恳劝你们为基督的缘故使自己的家庭和心灵都归于正途。让那源于上天的真理提拔你们，并使你们的魂、身子和灵全然成圣。“要禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的”(彼前2:11)。戴弟兄啊，你的饮食会加强你身体内低下的情欲。你没有管理好自己的身体，这原是你当尽的本分，以便存敬畏上帝的心，使自己全然成圣。你必须在饮食上实行节制，然后才能成为一个忍耐的人。要记得，你们已在很大程度上把自己品格的印记传给了儿女。你们应当看守自己，不要苛刻、严厉或不耐烦。要坚定然而耐心、亲爱、同情地对待他们，就像耶稣对待你们一样。要小心自己如何责备。要宽容你们的儿女，但要约束他们。这是你们已经大大忽略了的。你们没有以正确的态度纠正他们，也没有完全控制自己的精神。我亲爱的弟兄和姐妹，你们二人都须下一番很大的工夫。{PH085 22.2}
戴弟兄，如果你曾继续前进，力上加力，遵行上帝所赐的亮光，祂现在原会拣选你作义的器具。你有才干，有能力，你能为上帝的荣耀作工，但你还没有使自己完全降服于上帝。但愿你现在就寻求温柔谦卑，寻求基督的义，好使你在耶和华发烈怒的日子可以被隐藏起来!戴格纽弟兄和姐妹：你们应当联合一致、坚持不懈地更正你们对儿女的错误管理。戴姐妹对儿女一直太过纵容了。然而你们现在若是联合起来并且本着爱心行事，还可大有作为，将儿女维系在你们的心坎上，教导他们行走美善的义路。{PH085 23.1}
巴克弟兄和姐妹要下一番工夫使自己的心和家都归于正途。你们应当养成和谐一致行动的习惯。上帝圣灵改变人心的感化力能为你们二人成就大事，也会使你们齐心协力地在你们自己家中进行改革的工作。所有的抱怨、不满和急躁易怒都应停止。这种行为的影响会削弱你们二人，并且摧毁你们若要成功地为天国训练自己的儿女就必须发挥的影响力。撒但现在已经占领了阵地。他已经控制了你孩子们的思想。这些可怜的孩子是他的俘虏。他们惯行手淫。他们的意念趋于下流。他们的道德感似乎被麻痹了。他们惯行这种恶习而且以自己的罪孽为荣。这样的男孩能毒害附近的或整个社区的儿童，他们有害的影响会危及凡在学校与他们接触的儿童。你们的孩子身心都是败坏的。{PH085 24.1}
恶习已在你们较大的孩子身上留下了印记。他们被罪深深玷污了。兽性倾向占了上风，而道德能力和智力都很衰弱。低级卑贱的情欲已因不断实行而增强，而良心却变得刚硬并逐渐枯萎了。这就是恶习会给人的心志能力带来的影响。那些自暴自弃、从事毁灭自己身心之行为的人是不会就此止步的。最终会发现他们几乎为犯任何罪恶作好了准备，因为他们的良心被烙平了。父母们一点也没有醒悟过来，认识到自己为人父母的责任。他们是玩忽职守的。他们没有教导自己的儿女知道这些危险、败德的习惯是罪孽深重的。父母若不醒悟，他们的儿女就没有希望。{PH085 24.2}
我还可以提到别的许多例子，但除了少数几个例子，我还是克制不提了。{PH085 25.1}
乔治·沃伦是一个危险的伙伴。他也臣服于这种恶习。他的影响很坏。上帝的恩典对他的心没有任何影响。他头脑聪明，他的父亲很想赖此使他平衡;但只有心智的能力不能保证人在道德上优越。缺乏宗教原则使乔治·沃伦心地败坏，且在自己的恶行上奸猾异常。他的影响在任何地方都是恶毒的。他怀疑自己的原则，且以自己的怀疑为荣。他和同龄人或那些比他年幼的人在一起时，故意谈起宗教话题，拿神圣的事物开玩笑。他对圣经和真理加以讥讽和嘲笑;假装有知识，这有一种败坏人心的影响力，使年轻人感到以真理为耻。{PH085 25.2}
应当完全避免与这种人作伴，因为这是惟一安全之道。年轻姑娘们倾心于和乔治·沃伦交往;甚至一些自称是基督徒的人也很喜欢这种交往。{PH085 26.1}
海沃德这个男孩周围若有正确的感化力，就可以受到塑造。他需要一个正确的榜样。如果自称相信基督的青年愿意在自己的生活上尊荣祂，他们就能发挥一种感化力，抵销乔治·沃伦这种青年的邪恶影响。但年轻人一般不比那些从未称呼基督之名的人更虔诚。他们没有离开不义。一个像乔治·沃伦这样聪明伶俐的小伙子，能发挥一种强大的为恶影响力。这种才智若受美德和正直约束，就会有强大的为善能力;但它若受制于堕落，则他对所交往之人的邪恶影响就无法估计了，而且必使他陷入灭亡中。{PH085 26.2}
聪明才智若被败坏，就会生成很坏的心。横溢的才华若因上帝的灵成圣，就会发挥一种神秘的能力，具有这种能力的快乐的人，会向凡与之交往的人散布亮光和纯洁。{PH085 26.3}
如果像乔治·沃伦这样聪明的小伙子愿意将自己的心完全降服于基督，他就会得救。靠着纯洁的宗教，他的才智会被引导进入一个健康的渠道;他的心智和道德力量会变得健壮、和谐。他的良心，若蒙上帝神圣恩典的光照，就会变得敏锐、纯洁，控制意志和欲望，使他生活中的每一个举动都坦率正直。若没有宗教原则，这个男孩就会在一条邪恶的路线上变得奸猾、狡诈、诡秘，且会毒害凡与他交往的人。如果这个青年继续轻视信仰和圣经，我就警告所有的青年都要当心他。你们和他交往怎么谨慎都不过分。{PH085 27.1}
因为与那些没有发挥正确影响男孩子交往，拜伦·斯佩里也被败坏了。他与海沃德和乔治·沃伦的交往没有益处，因为他很容易在错误的方向受到影响。巴特尔克里克对他来说不是最好的地方。他的习惯并不纯洁，他也惯行手淫。他因放纵这种恶习，也因喜欢与邪恶的同伴交往，最终会削弱那些会帮助他形成正确贞洁品格和得到天国的心愿。想要得到不朽来生的青年必须就此止步，不容自己有一个不洁的想法或举动。不洁的思想导致不洁的行为。基督若是默想的主题，思想就会大大远离一切会导致不洁行为的题目。心智就会因细想使人高尚的题目而得到加强。若训练它驰骋在纯正圣洁的渠道，它就会变得健康有活力。若训练它细想属灵的题旨，通过培养，它就必自然而然地转向圣洁的方向。但人若不运用对上帝的信心，谦卑恳切地仰赖上帝，从祂那里寻求力量和恩典，好使他在每一紧急时刻都能得胜有余，就无法获得这种思想属天之事的吸引力。{PH085 27.2}
人若没有诚恳的努力和坚定的原则，就无法获得生活的纯洁，也无法依照神圣的榜样基督塑造完美的品格。一个优柔寡断的人必不能获得基督化的完美品格。这等人将被称在天平里，显出他的亏欠来。撒但现在正像一只吼叫的狮子，寻找可吞吃的人。他在每一轻信的青年身上施行他的诡计;只有在基督里才能获致安全。他们惟有靠着基督的恩典才能抵拒撒但的试探。撒但告诉青年，时间还多得是，你们可以再放纵一次罪恶，下次决不再犯了。但是那一次放纵就会毒害你的整个生命。{PH085 28.1}
一次也不要冒险踏入禁地。在这危险邪恶的世代，到处都充满了使人腐败和堕落的诱惑，愿青年怀着最恳切的心情呼求上天：“少年人用什么洁净他的行为呢”(诗119:9)?愿他的耳朵打开，愿他的心愿意顺从这个答案中的教导：“是要遵行祢的话。”青年在这个污秽的世代中的唯一保障，就是使上帝成为他们所倚靠的。他们若没有上帝的帮助，就不会有能力控制人性的情欲和食欲。在基督里才有所需要的帮助，但多么少的人会来向祂求取那种帮助啊。耶稣在世时曾说：“然而你们不肯到我这里来得生命”(约5:40)。在基督里，人人都能得胜。你可以和使徒一同说：“然而，靠着爱我们的主，在这一切的事上已经得胜有余了”(罗8:37)。此外：“我是攻克己身，叫身服我”(林前9:27)。{PH085 29.1}
我相当完全地写出了泰伯弟兄和他家的情况，因为这个家庭例证了许多家庭的真实状况，上帝希望这些家庭将这证言当作是特别为他们的益处而写的。我还可以提出更多的案例，但我提的已经足够多了。年轻姑娘们一般也难免手淫的罪行。她们也有这种恶习，结果体质大大受损。一些刚刚成年的女性有患脑瘫的危险。她们的道德能力和智力被削弱被麻痹，而兽性情欲却在获得优势，败坏身体和心灵。青年无论男女，若不完全终止这种地狱般的摧毁身心的恶习，就不能成为基督徒。{PH085 29.2}
许多青年渴望读书。凡能到手的书他们无不阅读。煽情的爱情小说和淫秽的照片图画，有令人腐化败坏的影响。许多人热切地细读小说，结果他们的想象力变得污秽下流。火车上常有许多裸体女子的照片出售。这类令人恶心的照片，散见于公共大厅，也张挂于售卖版画者的墙上。这是一个到处充斥腐败的时代。由于目睹与阅读，便激起了眼目的情欲和腐化的情欲。心地被幻想所败坏了。思想专喜注意那些激发卑劣下贱情欲的景象。这些邪恶的形像，既通过已玷污了的幻想而加以注视，便足以使道德败落，进而使这等被欺骗入迷惑的人去放纵肉体的情欲。于是犯罪不法之事便接踵而至，使那原本照着上帝形像受造的人类堕落到兽类的水准上去，最后更使之陷于沦亡。应当避免阅读或观看那些向你的想象力暗示不洁思想的事物。应当培养道德与心智上的能力。惟愿这些高贵的能力不因阅读过多，尤其是阅读小说，而致衰败。我认识一些人具有聪慧的脑力，却由于在阅读上不节制而趋于畸形，甚至有部分迟钝或麻木的现象了。{PH085 30.1}
我呼吁作父母的要控制你们儿女的阅读。许多阅读材料对他们只能造成伤害。尤其不要让含有爱情故事的报纸和杂志出现在你们的书桌上。青年若不爱慕研究上帝的圣言，就无从享有健全的思想和正确的宗教原则。这部圣书包含最有兴趣的历史，指明借基督而得救的正道，也是他们度更高尚更美满人生的向导。他们的想象力若不是因读虚构人物的刺激性的小说而致败坏，他们就必异口同声的宣称——圣经是他们曾读过的最有趣的书。你们在等待你们的主复临，将你们这必死的身体改变，与祂荣耀的身体相似的人，务须升达更高行事为人的水准。你们也必须采取较比往时更高的立场，否则，你们就绝不致被列入那些最后领受永远生命的人的中间。
怀爱伦{PH085 31.1}
PH085 - Special Testimony for the Battle Creek Church
【Special Testimony for the Battle Creek Church】
Dear Bro. and Sr. Tabor,It has been, some length of time since I have taken my pen to write, with the exception of penning urgent letters which could not be delayed. I have had a discouraging weight upon my spirits for months, which has nearly crushed me. That which discourages me the most, is, the fear that all I may write will do no more good than our earnest, anxious, wearing labor, the past winter and spring, in Battle Creek. The hopeless view I have taken of matters and things at Battle Creek, has kept my pen, nearly still, and my voice nearly silent. My hands have been weakened, and my heart depressed, to see nothing gained by the protracted effort there. I am nearly hopeless in regard to our efforts’ being successful to awaken the sensibilities of our Sabbath-keeping people to see the elevated position God requires them to occupy. They do not view religious things from an elevated standpoint. This is just your condition.?{PH085 1.1}[1]
The Lord has given me a view of some of the corruptions existing everywhere. Wickedness, crime, and sensuality, exist even in high places. Even in the churches professing to keep God’s commandments, there are sinners and hypocrites. It is sin, not trial and sufferings, which separates God from his?people, and renders the soul incapable of enjoying and glorifying him. It is sin that is destroying souls. Sin and vice exist in Sabbath-keeping families. Moral pollution has done more to degenerate the race than every other evil. It is practiced to an alarming extent, and brings on disease of almost every description. Even very small children, infants, being born with natural irritability of the sexual organs, find relief momentarily in handling them, which only increases the irritation, and leads to a repetition of the act, until a habit is established which increases with their growth. These children are generally puny and dwarfed, and are prescribed for by physicians, and they are drugged.?{PH085 1.2}[2]
But the evil is not removed. The cause still exists. Parents do not generally suspect that their children understand anything about this vice. Parents are the real sinners in very many cases. They have abused their marriage privileges, and indulged their animal passions, which have strengthened with indulgence. And as the baser passions have strengthened, the moral and intellectual have become weak. The spiritual has been over-borne by the brutish. Children are born with the animal largely developed. The parents have given to their children their own stamp of character. The unnatural action of the sensitive organs produces irritation. They?are easily excited and momentary relief is experienced in exercising them. But the evil is constantly increasing. The drain upon the system is sensibly felt. The brain force is weakened. The memory becomes deficient. And children born to these parents will almost invariably take naturally to the disgusting habits of secret vice. The marriage covenant is sacred. But what an amount of crime and lust it covers. Those who feel at liberty because married, to degrade their bodies by beastly indulgence or the animal passions will have their degraded course perpetuated in their children. The sins of the parents will be visited upon their children, because the parents have given them the stamp of their own lustful propensities.?{PH085 2.1}[3]
Those who have become fully established in this soul-and-body-destroying vice, can seldom rest until their burden or secret evil is imparted to those with whom they associate. Curiosity is at once aroused, and the knowledge of vice is passed from youth to youth, from child to child, until there is scarcely one to be found ignorant of the practice of this degrading sin.?{PH085 3.1}[4]
Your children have learned and practiced self-abuse until the draught upon the brain has been so great, especially in the case of your eldest son, that their minds have been seriously injured. The brilliancy of youthful intellect is dimmed. The moral and?intellectual powers have become weakened, while the baser parts of their nature have been gaining the ascendency.?{PH085 3.2}[5]
As this is the case with your son, he turns with loathing from religious and devotional things. He has been losing his power of self-restraint. He has less and less reverence for sacred things, and less respect for any thing of a spiritual character. You have charged this to your surroundings. You have not known the real cause. Your son can be said to bear the impress of the satanic, instead of the divine. He loves sin and evil, rather than true goodness, purity, and righteousness. It is a deplorable picture.?{PH085 4.1}[6]
The effect of such debasing habits upon the minds of all is not the same. There are some children, who have the moral powers largely developed, who, by associating with children that practice self-abuse, become initiated into this vice. The effects upon such will be too frequently to make them melancholy, irritable, and jealous, yet such may not lose their respect for religious worship, and may not show special infidelity in regard to spiritual things. They suffer keenly at times, with feelings of remorse. They feel degraded in their own eyes, and lose their self-respect.?{PH085 4.2}[7]
Brother and sister, you are not clear before God. You have failed to do your duty at home, in your own family. You have not?controlled your children. You have greatly failed to know and do the will of God, and the blessing of God has not rested upon your family. Bro. Tabor, you have been selfish. You have had large self-esteem. You have thought you possessed a good degree of humility, but you have not understood yourself. Your ways are not right before God. Your influence and example have not been in accordance with your profession. You have much fault to find with others. You see the deviations in them, but are blind to the same in yourself.?{PH085 4.3}[8]
Sr. Tabor has been far from God. Her heart has not been subdued by grace. Her love of the world, and of the things that are in the world, has closed her heart to the love of God. The love of dress, of appearance, has kept her from good, and led her to place her mind and affections upon these frivolous things. Unbelief has been gaining strength in her heart, and she has had less and less love for the truth, and could see but little attraction in the simplicity of true godliness.?{PH085 5.1}[9]
She has not encouraged a growth of the Christian graces. She has not had love for humility or devotion. She has taken the errors of those who professed to be devoted to the truth, and made their lack of spirituality, their errors, and their sins, an excuse for her world-loving disposition. She has watched the course of those who were?connected with the Office, and who were forward to take upon them the burdens of the church; and would offset her failures to their wrongs, saying that she was no worse than they. Such an individual in good standing did this or that, and she had as good a right as they. Bro. W., S., or some other one, did not live the health reform any better than she. They purchased and ate meat, and they were in high standing in the church, and she was excusable, of course, with such an example, if she did the same. This is not the only case of shielding neglect to follow the light the Lord has given, behind some others. This is to the shame of men and women of intelligent minds, that they have no standard higher than the low standard of imperfect human beings. The course of those around them, however imperfect, is considered by them a sufficient excuse for them to follow in the same course. Many will be swayed by the influence of Bro. A., or Bro. W., or Bro. S., or others. If these depart from the counsel of God, their example is at once gladly seized by the unconsecrated. They now are free from restraint. They now have an excuse. And their unconsecrated hearts glory in the opportunity of indulging their desires, and taking a step nearer the fellowship with the spirit of the world, to enjoy its pleasures, or to gratify the appetite. They place upon their tables those things which are not the?most healthful, and which they have been taught to abstain from, that they may preserve to themselves a better condition of health.?{PH085 5.2}[10]
There has been a war in the hearts of some, from the commencement of the introduction of health reform. They have felt the same rebellion as did the children of Israel when their appetites were restricted in their journeying from Egypt to Canaan. Professed followers of Christ, who have consulted their own pleasure, and their own interest, their own ease, their own appetites, all through their lives, are not prepared to change their course of action, and live for the glory of God, imitating the self-sacrificing life of their unerring Pattern. A holy and perfect example is given for Christians to follow and imitate. The words and works of Christ’s followers are the channel through which the pure principles of truth and holiness are conveyed to the world. They are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.?{PH085 7.1}[11]
Sister Taber, you cannot realize the many blessings you have lost by making the failings of others a balm to soothe your conscience for a neglect of your duty. You have been measuring yourself by others. Their crooked paths, their failings, have been your text-book. But their errors and follies and sins, do not make your disobedience to God less sinful.?{PH085 7.2}[12]
We regret that those who should be a strength to you in your efforts to overcome your love of self, your pride of heart, your vanity, and love of the approbation of worldlings, have only been a hindrance, by their own lack of spirituality and true godliness. We cannot tell you how much we regret that those who should be self-denying Christians are so far from coming up to the standard. Those who should be steadfast, abounding in the work of God, are weakened by Satan, because they remain at such a distance from God. They obtain not the power of his grace, through which they might overcome the infirmities of their nature, and, by obtaining signal victories in God, show those of weaker faith the way, and the truth, and the life. It has been that which has caused us the greatest discouragement, to see those in B. C. who have had years of experience in the cause and work of God, shorn of their strength, by their own unfaithfulness. They are outgeneraled by the enemy in nearly every attack. God would have made these persons strong, like faithful sentinels at their post, to guard the fort, had they walked in the light he had given them, and remained steadfast to duty, seeking to know and do the whole will of God. Satan will, I have no doubt, through his delusions, deceive these delinquent souls, and make them believe they are, after all, about right. They have?committed no grievous, outbreaking sins, and they must, after all, be on the true foundation, and God will accept their works. They do not see that they have especial sins to repent of. And they see no sins which call for especial humiliation, humble confession, and rending of heart.{PH085 8.1}[13]
The delusion upon such is strong, indeed, when they are so deceived, and mistake the form of godliness for the power thereof, and flatter themselves that they are rich and have need of nothing. The curse of Meroz rests upon them: “Curse ye Meroz, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.”?{PH085 9.1}[14]
My sister, excuse not your defects because others are wrong. You will not dare plead in the day of God as an excuse for your lack of forming a character for Heaven, that others did not manifest devotion and spirituality. The same lack which you discovered in others was in yourself. And the fact that others were sinners makes your sins none the less grievous. Both they, and you, if you continue in your present state of unfitness, will be separated from Christ, and be punished, with Satan and his angels, with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.?{PH085 9.2}[15]
The Lord made ample provisions for you, that if you would seek him, and follow the?light he would give you, you should not fall by the way. The word of God was given to you as a lamp to your feet, a light to your path. If you stumble it is because you have not consulted your guide, the word of God, and made that precious word the rule of your life. God has not given you, as a pattern, the life of any human being, however good, and apparently blameless his life may be. To do as others do, and act as others act, if followed, will leave you with a vast multitude at last outside the holy city, who have done just as you have done, followed a pattern the Lord did not leave them, and are lost, just as you will be lost.?{PH085 9.3}[16]
That which others have done, or may do in the future, will not lessen your responsibility or guilt. A pattern has been given you; a faultless life, characterized by self-denial and disinterested benevolence. If you disregard this correct, this perfect, pattern, and take an incorrect one, which has been clearly represented in the word of God, that you should shun, the failure of your life, the imperfection of your course of action, will receive their merited reward.?{PH085 10.1}[17]
One of the greatest reasons of the declension on the part of the church at B. C., is their measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves. There are but few who have the living principle in the soul, and who serve God with an?eye single to his glory. Many at B. C. will not consent to be saved in God’s appointed way. They will not take the trouble to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. The latter they do not experience; and, rather than to be at the trouble of obtaining an individual experience through individual effort, they will run the risk of leaning upon others, and trusting in their experience. They cannot consent to watch and pray, to live for God, and him only. It is more pleasant to live in obedience to self. The church at B. C. are filled with their own backslidings, and they need not dream of prosperity until those who name the name of Christ are careful to depart from all iniquity; until they learn to refuse the evil and choose the good. We are required to watch and pray without ceasing; for the snare is set in our path, and we find some device of Satan in that time and manner we least expect. If at that particular time we are not watching unto prayer, we are taken by the enemy, and meet with decided loss. What a responsibility has rested upon you, as parents! How little have you felt the weight of this burden! Your pride of heart, love of show, and the indulgence of your appetite, have occupied your minds. These things have been first with you. The incoming of the foe has not been perceived. He has planted his standard in your house, and stamped his detestable image?upon the characters of your children. You were so blinded by the god of this world that you could not discern the advantage Satan, had gained, nor his workings right in your family. You have been so deadened to spiritual and divine things, that you could not discern the workings of Satan.?{PH085 10.2}[18]
You have brought children into the world who have had no voice in regard to their existence. You have made yourselves responsible in a great measure for their future happiness, their eternal well-being. You have a burden upon you, whether you are sensible of it or not, to train these children for God. To watch with jealous care the first approach of the wily foe, and be prepared to raise a standard against him. Build a fortification of prayer and faith about your children, and exercise diligent watching thereunto. You are not secure a moment against the attacks of Satan. You have no time to rest from watchful, earnest labor. You should not sleep a moment at your post. This is a most important warfare. Eternal consequences are involved. It is life or death with you and your family. Your only safety is to break your hearts before God, and seek the kingdom of Heaven as little children. You cannot be overcomers in this warfare if you continue to pursue the course you have done. You are not very near the kingdom of Heaven.?{PH085 12.1}[19]
There are some who have not professed?Christ, who are nearer the kingdom of God than very many professed Sabbath-keepers in Battle Creek. You have not kept yourselves in the love of God, and taught your children the fear of the Lord. You have not taught them the truth diligently, when you rise up, and when you sit down, when you go out, and when you come in. You have not restrained them. You look to other children, and solace yourselves by saying, “My children are no worse than they.” This may be true; but does the neglect of others to do their duty, lessen the force of the requirements God has especially enjoined upon you as parents? God has made you responsible to bring these children up for him, and their salvation depends in a large degree upon the education they receive in their childhood. This responsibility others cannot take. It is yours, solely yours, as parents. You may bring to your aid all the helps you can to assist you in the work; but after you have done this, and brought to your aid all the help you can employ to aid you in this solemn and important work, there is a power above every human agency, to work with you, in, through, and by, means it is your privilege to use. God will come to your aid, and upon his power you can rely. This power is infinite. Human agencies may not prove successful; but God can make the human?agencies fruitful by working in them, and by them.?{PH085 12.2}[20]
You have a work to do to set your house in order. Pure and sinless angels cannot delight to come into your dwelling, where there is so much sin and iniquity practiced. You are asleep at your post. Things of minor importance have occupied your minds, and the things of weightier importance have not engaged your attention. It should be the first business of your life to seek the kingdom of Heaven and the righteousness of God; then you have the promise that all things shall be added. Here is where you have failed in your family. Had you been agonizing that you and yours might enter in at the strait gate, you would have earnestly gathered every ray of light that the Lord has permitted to shine upon your pathway, and would have cherished and walked in it. You have not regarded the light that has been graciously given you. You have had a spirit of rising up against the light the Lord has given upon health reform. You have seen no importance in it, why you should receive it. You have not felt willing to restrict your appetite. You could not see the wisdom of God in giving light in regard to the restriction of appetite. All that you could discern was the inconvenience attending the denial of the taste. The Lord has let his light shine upon us in these last days, that the gloom and?darkness which have been gathering in past generations, because of sinful indulgences, might be dispelled in some degree, and the train of evils which have been the result of intemperate eating and drinking to gratify appetite, might be lessened.?{PH085 14.1}[21]
The Lord, in his wisdom, designed to bring his people into a position where they would separate from the world in spirit and practice, then their children would not so readily be led away into idolatry, and become tainted with the prevailing corruptions of this age. It is God’s purpose that believing parents and their children should stand forth as living representatives of Christ, candidates for everlasting life. All who are partakers of the divine nature will escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. It is impossible for those who indulge the gratification of appetite to attain to Christian perfection. You cannot arouse the moral sensibilities of your children while you are not careful in the selection of their food. The tables that parents usually prepare for their children are a snare to them. The diet is not simple, and it is not prepared in a healthful manner. The food is frequently rich and fever-producing having a tendency to irritate and excite the tender organs of the stomach. The animal passions are strengthened, while the moral and intellectual are weakened. The lower order of passions bears sway, while the moral?and intellectual are servants to the baser passions. You should study to prepare a simple yet nutritious diet. Rich cakes, rich pies, prepared with spices, of any kind, and flesh-meats, are not the most healthful and nourishing diet. Eggs should not be placed upon your table. They are an injury to your children. Fruits and grains, prepared in the most simple form, are the most healthful, and will impart the greatest amount of nourishment, and, at the same time, the intellect will be unimpaired.?{PH085 15.1}[22]
Regularity in eating is very important for health of body and serenity of mind. Your children should be allowed to eat only at regular meal time. They should not be allowed to digress from this established rule. When you, Sr. Tabor, absent yourself from home, you cannot control these important matters. Already has your eldest son enervated his entire system, and laid the foundation for permanent disease. Your second child is fast following in his tracks, and not one of your children is safe from this evil.?{PH085 16.1}[23]
You may be unable to obtain the truth, in regard to the habits of your children, from them. Those who practice secret vice will lie and deceive. Your children may deceive you, for you are not in a condition where you can know if they attempt to lead you astray. You have been blinded by the enemy so long that you have scarcely a ray of?light to discern darkness. There is a great, a solemn, and important work for you to do at once, to set your own hearts and house in order. Your only safe course is, to take right hold of this work. Do not deceive yourselves into the belief that, after all, this matter is placed before you in an exaggerated light. I have not colored the picture. I have stated facts which will bear the test of the Judgment. Awake!. awake! I beseech you, before it shall be too late for wrongs to be righted, and you and your children perish in the general ruin. Take hold of the solemn work, and bring to your aid every ray of light you can gather that has shone upon your pathway, and that you have not cherished, and, together with the aid of the light now shining, commence an investigation of your life and character as if before the tribunal of God. “Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,” is the exhortation of the apostle. Vice and corruption are abounding on every hand, and unless there is more than human strength to rely upon to stand against so powerful a current of evil, you will be overcome, and borne down with the current to perdition. Without holiness no man shall see God.?{PH085 16.2}[24]
The Lord is proving and testing his people. Angels of God are watching the development of character, and weighing moral worth. Probation is almost ended, and you?are unready. Oh! that the word of warning might burn into your soul. Get ready! get ready! Work while the day lasts, for the night cometh when no man can work. The mandate will go forth, He that is holy, let him be holy still, and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still. The destiny of all will be decided. A few, yes, only a few, of the vast number who people the earth, will be saved unto life eternal, while the masses who have not perfected their souls in obeying the truth, will be appointed for the second death. O Saviour, save the purchase of thy blood, is the cry of my anguished heart. I am in terrible fear for you, and for many who profess to believe the truth in Battle Creek. Oh! search, search diligently your own hearts, and make thorough work for the Judgment.?{PH085 17.1}[25]
I am pained at heart, when I call to mind how many children of Sabbath-keeping parents are ruining soul and body with this vice. There is a family near you who reveal their evil habits in their bodies as well as their minds. S. B. Warrens’ children are on the direct road to perdition. They are debased. They have instructed very many in this vice. The eldest boy is dwarfed, physically and mentally, through indulging in the practice of this degrading vice. What little intellect he has left is of a low order. If he continues in this vicious practice he will eventually?become idiotic. Every indulgence of children who have attained their growth, is a terrible evil, and will produce its terrible results, enervating the system, and weakening the intellect. But in those who indulge this corrupting vice before attaining their growth, the evil effects are more plainly marked, and recovery from the effects of such sinful indulgence more nearly hopeless. The frame is weak and stunted; the muscles are flabby; the eyes become small, and appear at times swollen; the memory is treacherous, the inability to concentrate the thoughts upon study increases; the memory becomes sieve-like. To the parents of these children, I would say, you have brought children into the world which are only a curse to society. Your children are unruly, passionate, quarrelsome, and vicious. Their influence upon others is corrupting. These children bear the stamp of the baser passions of the father. The stamp of his character is placed upon his children. His hasty, violent temper is reflected in his children. These parents should have long ago removed to the country, separating themselves and children from the society of those they could not benefit, but only harm.?{PH085 18.1}[26]
Steady industry upon a farm would have proved a blessing to these children, and constant employment, as their strength could bear, would have given them less opportunity?to corrupt their own bodies by self-abuse, and would have prevented them from instructing a large number in this hellish practice. Labor is a great blessing to all children, especially to that class whose minds are naturally inclined to vice and depravity. These children have communicated more knowledge of vice in B. C. than all the united efforts of ministers and people professing godliness can counteract. Many, who have learned of your children will go to perdition rather than control their passions and cease the indulgence of this sin. One corrupt mind can sow more corrupt seed in a short period of time than many in a whole life time can root out. Your children are a by-word in the mouths of blasphemers of the truth. These are the children of Sabbath-keepers. They are worse than the children of worldlings in general. They possess less refinement and self-respect. Bro. Warren has been no honor to the cause of God. His impetuous temper, and general influence, have not had a tendency to elevate, but to bring down to a low level. He has brought the cause of God into disrepute by his lack of judgment and refinement. It would have been far better for the cause of truth had this family removed long ago to a less important post, where their influence would have been less felt, because they would be more secluded. These children have lived in the light of truth, and have had privileges?that but few children have had, yet all this time they have not been benefited. They have been growing more and more hardened in depravity. A removal would be better for the family, for steady employment upon land would be a blessing to father and children if they would profit by the advantages of farming life. Their removal would be a blessing to the church and to society.?{PH085 19.1}[27]
I saw that the family of Bro. Daigneau need a great work done for them. Samuel and Charlie have gone to great lengths in this crime of self-abuse; especially is this true of Charlie, who has gone so far in the practice of this sin that his intellect is affected, his eye sight is weakened, and disease is fastening itself upon him. Satan has almost full control of this poor boy’s mind. His parents are not awake to see the evil and its results. His mind is debased, his conscience is hardened, his moral sensibilities are benumbed, and he will be a ready victim to be led into sin and crime by evil associates. Bro. and Sr. D., arouse yourselves, I beg of you. You have not received the light of health reform, and acted upon it. If you had restricted your appetites you would have been saved much extra labor and expense; and what is of vastly more consequence, you would have preserved to yourselves a better condition of health, and a greater degree of physical and intellectual strength to appreciate?eternal truths; you would have a clearer brain to weigh the evidences of truth, and be better prepared to give to others a reason of the hope that is in you. Your food is not of that simple, healthful quality to make the best kind of blood. Foul blood will surely becloud the moral and intellectual, and arouse and strengthen the baser passions of your nature. Neither of you can afford a feverish diet, for it is at the expense of the health of the body, and the prosperity of your own souls, and the souls of your children.?{PH085 21.1}[28]
You place upon your table food which taxes the digestive organs, and excites the animal passions, and weakens the moral and intellectual. Rich food and flesh-meats are no benefit to you. Could you view just the nature of the meat you eat, the animals, when living, from which the flesh is taken when dead, you would turn with loathing from your flesh-meats. The animals whose flesh you eat, are frequently so diseased, that, if left alone, they would die of themselves; but, while the breath of life is in them, they are killed and brought to market. You take directly into your system humors and poison of the worst kind, and yet you realize it not. You love the indulgence of appetite. You have a lesson to learn: Whatsoever you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, to do all to the glory of God.?{PH085 22.1}[29]
I entreat of you, for Christ’s sake, to set?your house and hearts in order. Let the truth of heavenly origin elevate and sanctify you, soul, body, and spirit. Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Bro. D., your eating has an influence to strengthen the baser passions. You do not control your body, as it is your duty to do in order to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Temperance in eating must be practiced by you before you can be a patient man. Remember you have given to your children, in a great degree, the stamp of your own character. You should guard yourself, and not be harsh, or severe, or impatient. Deal with them decidedly, yet patiently, lovingly, pityingly, as Jesus has dealt with you. Be careful how you censure. Bear with your children, yet restrain them. This has been too much neglected by you. You have not corrected them in the right manner, not having perfect control of your own spirit. A great work must be done for you, my dear brother and sister.?{PH085 22.2}[30]
Bro. D., if you had gone on from strength to strength, following in the light the Lord has given, he would now have chosen you as an instrument of righteousness. You have talents; you have ability; you can work for God’s glory; but you have not, Bro. D., made an entire surrender of yourself to God. Oh! that, even now, you would seek the righteousness of Christ, seek meekness, that you may be hid in the day of the Lord’s fierce?anger! Bro. and Sr. Daigneau, you should take hold unitedly and perseveringly to right the wrong of your mismanagement of your children. Sr. D. has been too indulgent; yet unitedly and in love, you can do much, even now, to bind your children to your hearts, and instruct them in the good and right way.?{PH085 23.1}[31]
Bro. and Sr. Barker have a work to do in setting their own hearts and house in order. They should cultivate harmonious action. The transforming influence of the Spirit of God can do a great work for you both, and will unite your hearts and efforts in the work of reform in your own family. All repining, murmuring, and a hasty irritability, should be done with. Its effects are to weaken you both, and to destroy the influence you must have if you succeed in training your children for Heaven. Satan now has the field. He has the control of the minds of your children. These poor children are his captives. They practice self-abuse. Their minds take a low turn. Their moral sensibilities seem paralyzed. They have practiced this vice, and gloried in their iniquities. Such boys are capable of poisoning an entire neighborhood or community, and their pernicious influence will endanger all who are brought in contact with them in school capacity. Your children are corrupt, body and mind.?{PH085 24.1}[32]
Vice has placed its marks upon your eldest?children. They are tainted, deeply tainted, with sin. The animal propensities predominate, while the moral and intellectual are very weak. The lower, baser passions have gained strength by exercise, while conscience has become hardened and seared. This is the influence which vice will have upon the mental powers. Those who give themselves up to work the ruin of their own bodies and minds; do not stop here. Eventually they will be found ready for crime in almost any form, for their consciences are seared. Parents have not been half aroused to realize their responsibility in becoming parents. They are remiss in their duty. They do not teach their children the sinfulness of these dangerous, virtue-destroying habits. Until parents arouse, there is no hope for their children.?{PH085 24.2}[33]
I might mention the cases of many others, but will forbear, except in a few instances.?{PH085 25.1}[34]
George Warren is a dangerous associate. He is a subject of this vice. His influence is bad. The grace of God has no influence upon his heart. He has a good intellect, and his father has trusted much to this to balance him. But mental power alone is not a guaranty of virtuous superiority. The absence of religious principles makes George Warren base and corrupt at heart, and sly in his doings of wrong. His influence is pernicious everywhere. He is infidel in his principles,?and glories in his skepticism. When with those of his own age, or those younger than himself, he talks knowingly of religious things, and jests at sacred things. He sneers at truth, and the Bible; pretends knowledge, which has its influence to corrupt minds and lead young men to feel ashamed of the truth.?{PH085 25.2}[35]
The company of such companions should be wholly avoided; for this is the only sure course of safety. Young girls are enamored with the society of George Warren; even some who profess to be Christians prefer such society.?{PH085 26.1}[36]
The young Hayward is a boy who can be moulded if surrounded by correct influences. This boy needs right example. If the young who profess Christ would honor him in their lives they could exert an influence to counteract the pernicious influence of such youth as George Warren. But the youth generally have no more religion than those who have never named the name of Christ. They do not depart from iniquity. A smart, intelligent boy, like George Warren, can have a powerful influence for evil. If this intelligence were controlled by rectitude and virtue, it would be powerful for good; but if it is swayed by depravity, its evil cannot be estimated upon his associates, and it will assuredly sink him in perdition.?{PH085 26.2}[37]
A good intellect corrupted makes a very bad heart. A brilliant intellect sanctified?by the Spirit of God exerts a hidden power, diffuses light and purity upon all with whom the happy possessor associates.?{PH085 26.3}[38]
If a boy of mental abilities, as George Warren; would surrender his heart to Christ, this would be his salvation. His intellect would, by the means of pure religion, be brought into a healthy channel. His mental and moral powers would grow vigorously and harmoniously. The conscience illuminated with divine grace, would be quick and pure, controlling the will and desires, leading to frankness and uprightness in every act of life. Without the principles of religion this boy will be cunning, artful, sly, in an evil course, and will poison all he associates with. I warn all the youth to beware of this young man, if he continues to slight religion and the Bible. You cannot be too guarded in his society.?{PH085 27.1}[39]
Byron Sperry is being corrupted by associating with those boys who have not the right influence. The Hayward boy and George Warren are not profitable associates for Byron. Byron is easily influenced in the wrong direction. Battle Creek is not the best place for him. Byron’s habits are not pure; self-abuse is practiced by him, and this crime, indulged by him, and loving the company of evil associates, will weaken his desires which help to form a correct and virtuous character, and secure Heaven at last. The youth, who desire immortality, must stop?where they are, and not allow an impure thought or an impure act. Impure thoughts lead to impure actions. If Christ is the theme of contemplation the thoughts will be widely separated from every subject which will lead to impure acts. The mind will strengthen by exercise in dwelling upon elevating subjects. It will become healthy and vigorous if trained to run in the channel of purity and holiness. The mind, if trained to dwell upon spiritual themes, will, by cultivation, naturally take that turn. But this attraction of the thoughts to heavenly things cannot be without the exercise of faith in God, and an earnest, humble reliance upon him for strength, and that grace which is sufficient for every emergency.?{PH085 27.2}[40]
Purity of life and a character moulded after the divine Pattern are not obtained without earnest effort and fixed principles. A wavering, vacillating mind will not succeed in attaining Christian perfection. Such will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. Satan is seeking for his prey like a roaring lion. He will try his wiles upon every unsuspecting youth, and there is no safety any where only in Christ. It is through his grace alone that Satan can be successfully repulsed. Satan tells the youth there is time enough yet; that they may indulge in sin and vice this once, and never again; but?that one indulgence will poison your whole life.?{PH085 28.1}[41]
Do not venture on forbidden ground once. Let the earnest, heart-felt cry of the youth be raised to Heaven in this perilous day of evil, when the allurements to vice and corruption are on every hand. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” May his ears be opened and his heart inclined to obey the instruction given in the answer, “By taking heed thereto, according to Thy word.” The only safety for the youth in this age of pollution is to make God their trust. Without divine help they will he unable to resist human passions and appetites. In Christ is the very help needed; but how few will come to him for that help. Said Jesus, when upon the earth, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” In Christ all can conquer. You can say with the apostle, “Nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that hath loved us.” Again, “But I keep under my body, and bring it unto subjection.”?{PH085 29.1}[42]
I have written out quite fully the case of Bro. Tabor and family, because this one, illustrates the true state of very many families, and God would have these families take this as though written especially for their benefit. There are many more cases I might designate, but I have named enough already. The young girls are not as a general thing?clear of the crime of self-abuse. They practice it, and as the result their constitutions are being ruined. Some, just entering womanhood, are in danger of paralysis upon the brain. Already the moral and intellectual powers are weakened and benumbed, while the animal passions are gaining the ascendency and corrupting body and soul. The youth, whether male or female, cannot be Christians unless they cease this hellish, soul-and-body-destroying, vice entirely.?{PH085 29.2}[43]
Many of the young are eager after books. They read everything they can obtain. Exciting love stories, and impure pictures, have a corrupting influence. Novels are eagerly perused by the youth, and their imagination becomes defiled. Photographs are circulated in the cars for sale with females in a state of nudity. These disgusting pictures are found in the daguerrean saloons, and hung in pictures upon the walls of those who deal in engravings. This is an age when corruption is teeming. The lust of the eye and corrupt passions are aroused by beholding and by reading. The heart is corrupted through the imagination. The mind takes pleasure in contemplating scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These evil images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals, and prepare the deluded, infatuated beings, to give loose rein to lustful passions, and then follow sins and crimes, dragging?beings formed in the image of God down to a level with the beasts, and sinking them at last in perdition. Avoid reading and seeing things which will suggest to your imagination impure thoughts. Cultivate the moral and intellectual powers. Let not these noble powers become enfeebled and perverted by much reading of even story books. I know of strong minds that have been unbalanced, and partially benumbed, or paralyzed, by intemperance in reading.?{PH085 30.1}[44]
I appeal to parents to control the reading matter for their children. Much reading does them only harm. Especially do not permit upon your table the magazines and newspapers wherein are found love stories. It is impossible for the youth to possess a healthy tone of mind, and correct religious principles, unless they enjoy the perusal of the word of God. This book contains the most interesting history, points out the way of salvation through Christ, and is their guide to a higher and better life. They would all pronounce it the most interesting book they ever perused, if their imagination had not become perverted by exciting stories of a fictitious character. You who are looking for your Lord to come the second time to change your mortal bodies, and fashion them like unto his most glorious body, must come up upon a higher plane of action. You must work from a higher standpoint than?you have hitherto done, or you will not be of that number that shall receive the finishing touch of immortality.?{PH085 31.1}[45]
---Ellen G. White[46]
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