(巴特尔克里克)学院记录
1878年1月1日
“敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端”
如果上我们学院的人想成为有影响力有能力的人，他们就必须学会尊重和敬畏他们的创造主。如果他们想获得全面的教育，他们必须通晓书中之书——圣经。圣经包含真理的宝石，能使他们有得救的智慧。论到圣经，那位曾离开宝座、屈尊为人，来拯救堕落人类的天国大能者降吩咐说：“你们查考圣经，因你们以为内中有永生、给我作见证的就是这经”(约5：39)。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 1}
我们的学院不仅是一个培养思想的文化机构，还是一个塑造品格的地方。学生不要觉得为了最充分地利用时间，就必须全心全意地投入到各门功课的学习中去。这只是教育的一部分。身心的所有力量都应得到训练以达到最大的善果。学生应该看到并感受到建立在正确基础上的重要性。他应以敬畏耶和华开始，以公平公义的律法为引导。耶稣是完美的模范。祂纯洁无暇生活的榜样应该作为年轻人的楷模，不断地展示出来。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 2}
我们所有已经学会热爱和敬畏上帝的学生，都不要低估获得这种知识的价值;因为灵感之笔宣布说，敬畏耶和华是一切知识的根基。那些敬畏上帝、热爱上帝、并靠着上帝的大能，立志勇敢地承担责任的人，将在他的宗教生活中体现上帝的慈爱、智慧和力量。法利赛式宗教家的生活与他的表白相矛盾，故受到那些崇尚真理、诚实和正直之人的讨厌和回避。但是真正向耶稣学习，并在生活中表现出谦卑的温柔的人，将通过他的举止和宗教生活，对同胞发挥感人的影响。任何人都不应该觉得，在成为基督公开门徒的过程中，他采取了一种感到羞耻的立场，或者他希望躲藏起来。这将证明道德品质的弱点和胆怯。与天上的上帝联合就是与持有权杖的最富有最强大的君王结盟。作全能上帝的儿女，就是与万王之王、天地的主宰建立关系。这是最高的提升。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 3}
不要任凭年轻人单独思考和行动。他们应该以有经验之人的忠告为指导。青年人每天在生活的园地里播撒种子，将来会有什么收成呢?所有人都在为自己编织一张习惯的网，一旦形成，就不易破除。所以对青年人施加促进健康、兴旺和心灵安宁的影响是多么重要啊!许多年轻人在关键时刻，因为缺少善意的同情和鼓励的话而走上错误的道路。几乎每个青年都有一个人生的转折点，道德价值要么上升，要么下降到一个低水平。在人生的这些关键时刻青年人所受到的影响，决定了他们今生所形成的品格和他们永恒的命运。.{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 4}
如果年轻人选择品格低劣的人为伴，沉溺于阅读像秋天落叶那样到处散布的低级情感故事和不洁书籍，他们的心灵就会留下他们的读物所造就的低级不洁的模式。不洁的事物和不洁的思想会对心灵产生黑暗的影响。这等人可能会悔改，可能会对过去所受的教育深感悲哀，但是他们的品格将会留下污点;曾经怀有的不圣洁思想不可能随意完全摒弃。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 5}
全面的教育不仅包括文学造诣，还包括正确行为的知识。离开家去上学的学生不应该因为没有父母的眼睛注视着他们的进出而抛弃所有的束缚感。他们应该感到比在家时更有必要自我控制。他们必须对自己的行为是否恰当有成熟的判断。随着他们在知识上的进步，他们应该培养优雅的举止。那些仅仅满足于科学知识的人，是在接受片面的教育。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 6}
富人的儿子一般比穷人的儿子更难管教。富翁的儿子们常常用举止告诉别人：“你对待我要小心。我是富人的儿子。我愿意做什么就做什么。“但实际上那些认为父辈的财富和土地增加了自己价值的学生，却不断地在证明他们需要接受文明和礼貌的教育。金钱、房屋和土地都无法为他们买到发展完善的高尚品德，而这些品德将提高人在社会中的道德价值，和他们在上帝心目中的地位。造就人的不是财富，也不是地位，而是道德价值。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 7}
在我们国家的许多学院里，年轻人因着与同学的交往而处于败坏和堕落的危险之中。对诱惑持开放心态的人，在智力文化中是不可能达到很高造诣的。那些不参与轻浮虚幻的享乐就不安和不满的年轻人，会以一种永远不会给他们带来好处的方式，使用上帝赋予他们的能力，结果就是心智低能。凡允许低级的情欲、食欲、自私和骄傲支配的人，将违犯他们本性的一切法则，在道德堕落中越陷越深。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 8}
但愿巴特克里克学院不要收留这类学生。一个这样的人会败坏许多年轻人的品德，成为学校的污点。年轻人从父母的家里被送到我们的学院，希望接受良好的教育和训练，以便带着平衡的思想和知识的造诣出来;他们的道德和属灵本性会因巴特克里克的课目训练和周围宗教帮助的影响而得到启发和提高。这就是我们的学院规定要完成的任务。我们希望让全世界的人都知道，我们不仅在各门学科上教育我们的青年，而且还不断地教导他们认识和顺从上帝律法的重要性。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 9}
正确的交往对年轻人来说是最重要的。不要任他们选择那些降低诚信标准的人为友。这种友谊具有潜移默化的影响，使他们有缺陷的品格受到他们所交往之人的同化。在另一方面，如果我们青年人的朋友是具有良好思想和健全原则的人，他们将通过他们有意识或无意识的影响，大大有益于他们所接触的人。思维的能力将得到激活。纯洁的思想、言语和行动将产生显着而向上的影响力。CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 10}
好习惯对青年男女来说有着不可言喻的价值。他们的境遇也许永远是卑微的，但如果他们成长为有思想的人，勤劳的人，善良的人，谨慎的人，他们的道路将是稳步向上的。他们在社会上有用，值得信赖，值得尊敬，不容易被引诱离开正直的道路。他们养成的宝贵习惯将使他们结交朋友，这些朋友的影响会加强美德和原则的纽带。把好习惯当作品格基石的年轻人不会被诱惑的风暴所动摇。他们可以像约瑟一样贞洁，像摩西一样温顺，并拥有所罗门的智慧。他们不论在哪里，不论在城市，乡村，会计室或是在大学里都是安全的。他们可以成就任何事，因为他们与大能者有联系;祂是一切智慧和能力的泉源。{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 11}
(BATTLE CREEK) COLLEGE RECORD
January 1, 1878
“The Fear of the Lord Is the Beginning of Wisdom.“
If those who attend our College would become men of influence and power, they must learn to reverence and honor their Creator; if they would obtain a thorough education, they must become acquainted with the Book of all books. This volume contains the jewels of truth that are able to make them wise unto salvation. Concerning this book, the Majesty of Heaven, who left his royal throne and stooped to the level of humanity that he might elevate the fallen race, has given the injunction: “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.”?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 1}
Our College is not only a literary institution, where minds are to be educated, but it is a place where character is to be molded. The student should not feel, that, in order to improve his time to the best account, his mind must be exclusively devoted to the study of the sciences. This is but one branch of education. All the powers of mind and body should be trained to accomplish the greatest amount of good. The student should see and feel the importance of building upon the right foundation. He should commence with the fear of the Lord, and be guided by his just and righteous laws. Jesus is the perfect pattern. His example in a pure and spotless life should be continually presented as a model for the youth.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 2}
Let none of our students who have learned to love and fear God, undervalue the acquisition of this knowledge; for the pen of inspiration has declared that the fear of the Lord lies at the very foundation of all knowledge. He who fears and loves God, and is making it his aim in the strength of God to be brave to duty, will exemplify in his religious life the love, the wisdom, and the power of God. The Pharisaical religionist, whose life contradicts his profession, will be disliked and shunned by those who admire truth, honesty, and integrity; but he who has indeed learned of Jesus, and who manifests in his life the meekness of humility, will, by his deportment and religious life, exert a winning influence upon his associates. No one should feel that in becoming an acknowledged follower of Christ he has taken a position to be ashamed of, or that he should wish to hide. This would evidence weakness of moral character, and cowardice. To be connected with the God of Heaven is to be allied to the richest and mightiest sovereign that ever held a scepter. To be sons and daughters of the Almighty, is to bear relationship to the King over all kings, the Monarch of the heavens and the earth. This is the highest exaltation.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 3}
The young should not be left to themselves, to think and act independently. They should be guided by the counsel of those of experience. The youth are every day sowing seed in the field of life; and what will the harvest be? All are weaving for themselves a web of habits, which, when once formed, will task the strength to break. How important, then, that the influence exerted over the youth be such as will promote health, prosperity, and peace of mind. Many a youth has, in a critical moment, balanced in the wrong direction for want of kindly sympathy and encouraging words. There is, with almost every youth, a turning-point in life, from which he will either rise in moral worth or sink to a low level. The influence thrown around youth at these critical points in life, determines the character which they shall develop for time; and their destiny for eternity.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 4}
If the youth choose the society of those whose characters have been cast in an inferior mold, if they indulge in the reading of the cheap sensational stories and impure books which are scattered through the land like autumn leaves, their minds will have the inferior, impure cast of that upon which they feed. Impure objects and impure thoughts will exert a blackening influence upon the soul. This class may repent, they may deeply mourn over their past education, but marks of the stain will be left upon the character; unhallowed thoughts once cherished cannot be entirely banished at will.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 5}
Thorough education comprises not only literary attainments, but a knowledge of proper behavior. Students who leave their homes to attend school should not cast off all feeling of restraint, because no watchful parental eye is upon their going out and coming in. They should feel that self-control is even more necessary than when at home, and that they must have maturity of judgment with regard to the propriety of their acts. As they progress in knowledge, they should cultivate refinement of manners. Those who are satisfied with a knowledge of the sciences merely, are obtaining a one-sided education.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 6}
The sons of the wealthy are generally more difficult to restrain than the sons of poor men. Rich men’s sons frequently say, by their deportment, “You must be careful how you deal with me. I am a rich man’s son, and shall do as I please.” But in reality those students who feel that their importance is increased by the money and lands of their fathers, are continually developing the fact that they need an education in refinement and common politeness. Money, houses, and lands cannot purchase for them well developed, refined characters, which will raise the possessors in moral value in society, and elevate them in the estimation of God. It is not wealth nor standing that makes the man; it is moral worth.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 7}
Many of the colleges in our land are places where, by association with fellow-students, the youth are in danger of becoming immoral and depraved. The mind that is left open to temptation is not in a fit condition to reach high attainments in intellectual culture. Youth who are restless and dissatisfied unless they can be engaged in frivolous and delusive pleasure, use their God given capabilities in a manner that will never bring them returns of good; for the end will be mental imbecility. Those who allow the lower passions, appetite, selfishness, and pride, to govern them, will violate every law of their natures, and sink lower and lower in moral degradation.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 8}
God forbid that Battle Creek College should retain this class of students. One person of this stamp would demoralize scores of youth, and would be a blot upon the school. Youth are sent from the parental home to our College to be so educated and disciplined that they may come forth with well-balanced minds as well as intellectual culture; that the moral and spiritual nature may be enlightened and elevated by the discipline of intellectual studies, and the influence of the religious helps which surround them at Battle Creek. This is the work which our College is designed to accomplish. We are willing that the whole world should know, not only that our youth are educated in the sciences, but that they have continually kept before them the importance of obtaining a knowledge of the laws of God, and of rendering obedience to them.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 9}
Proper associations are of the highest importance to the youth. They should not be left to choose associates who will lower their standard of integrity. The friendship of such has a stealthy influence assimilating to their own deficient characters those who associate with them. On the other hand, if the associates of our youth are persons of good minds and sound principles, they will, by their conscious and unconscious influence, greatly benefit those brought in contact with them. The powers of the mind will be invigorated. Pure thoughts, words, and actions will have a telling influence, elevating in its tendency.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 10}
Good habits are of untold value to young men and women. Their circumstances may be ever so lowly, but if they grow up thoughtful, industrious, virtuous, and discreet, their course will be steadily upward. They will be useful in society, trustworthy, and honorable; they will not be easily beguiled from the path of uprightness. The valuable habits which they have formed will bring around them friends whose influence will strengthen the bonds of virtue and principle. Youth who have made good habits the foundation-stone of character will not be rocked by the storms of temptation. They may be chaste like Joseph, meek like Moses, and have the wisdom possessed by Solomon. They will be safe anywhere, in city or country, counting-room or college. They may be and accomplish anything; for they are connected with the Mighty One, the Source of all wisdom and all strength.?{CollegeRecord January 1, 1878, par. 11}
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