The Review and Herald
July 15, 1902
An Appeal to Parents—No. 2
God's great lesson book, his holy Word, gives parents instruction regarding the preparation they and their children must receive before they can be admitted into the heavenly family. Parents, hear the word of the Lord to you: RH July 15, 1902, par. 1
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine 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. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.” RH July 15, 1902, par. 2
“What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” RH July 15, 1902, par. 3
Upon obedience depends the life and happiness, the health and joy, of men, women, and children. Obedience is for our well-being in this life and in the life to come. “The Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us.” RH July 15, 1902, par. 4
If the law of God were taught in the home, if obedience were enjoined upon children from their earliest years, how different the world would be today! Temperance, industry, and economy would be seen. Evil would be avoided. Virtue would be cherished. RH July 15, 1902, par. 5
The Scriptures given above are for our admonition and instruction. But they are not studied as they should be. The failure to follow God's plan is causing him to withdraw his blessing from parents and children. Many fathers and mothers will have a heavy charge brought against them when they stand before the Judge of all the earth. They do not obey the voice of the Lord. They permit their children to do wickedly. Their unruly, disobedient children testify to their neglect of duty. RH July 15, 1902, par. 6
God is watching the families who claim to be Christians, to see how they are conducting themselves. If ever evangelical work was needed, it is needed now in our families, our schools, our sanitariums, and our publishing houses. Let us consider the work to be done. Fathers and mothers need to feel the converting power of God. Their lives need to be cleansed. There are many professed Christians who have never been transformed in character. This is why the Holy Spirit cannot accomplish its work upon hearts. RH July 15, 1902, par. 7
“I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” RH July 15, 1902, par. 8
“Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” RH July 15, 1902, par. 9
A Reformation Called For
God calls for a thorough purification of households and institutions. There is need, not merely of a revival, but of a reformation. Every church needs to be stirred as never before. When the great light that God has given shines forth through human agencies, a great work will be done. In demonstration of the Spirit, and with power, the truth will be revealed in clear, distinct lines. But this work must begin in the home. RH July 15, 1902, par. 10
As the right work is done in the home, parents will find their hearts subdued and melted. Strange prejudices that have been cherished by brethren and sisters in the church, prejudices that have borne evil fruit, will be overcome, and will disappear. A spirit of candor will come in, a spirit after Christ's likeness. God's people will give up the tenacious desire to have their own way and to urge their own ideas; for they will realize that they are in the presence of God's Son. RH July 15, 1902, par. 11
I beseech the parents in our churches to make a solemn covenant with God by repentance and confession. Confess your past neglect, and in the fear of God take up the work of educating your children in righteousness. Do you not think that it is time to seek the Lord with the whole heart, that you may find him, and co-operate with him in working for the salvation of your children? The Lord will not pass over a neglect to feed his lambs. Teach your children that they are the younger members of the Lord's family. Guide their feet in the way of holiness. Lead them to God. Guard well your words and actions, that by example as well as by precept you may give the lessons God has instructed you to give. Respond to the striving of the Holy Spirit. Thus you prepare the way for your children to respond to this striving. RH July 15, 1902, par. 12
O parents, for the sake of yourselves, and your children, I make this appeal to you. My heart is greatly burdened. I cannot sleep as I think of parental neglect and its fatal results. I pray that you may be impressed with the importance of the work on which so much depends. There is set before you “a blessing and a curse; a blessing if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, ... and a curse, if ye will not obey.” This is your day of trust. Soon will come your day of reckoning. Take up your work with earnest prayer and faithful endeavor. Let Christ find you his helping hand in carrying out his purposes. Prepare for the coming of the Lord. This is the preparation day. Set your own hearts in order, and work earnestly for your children. An unreserved surrender to God will sweep away the barriers that have so long defied the approaches of heavenly grace. When you take up the cross and follow Christ, when you bring your lives into conformity to the will of God, your children will be converted. The world will take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and have learned of him. In word and deed they will bear witness to the power of Christ's grace. RH July 15, 1902, par. 13