patriarchs and prophets-第155章

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The　pupils　of　these　schools　sustained　themselves　by　their　own　labor　in
tilling　the　soil　or　in　some　mechanical　employment。　In　Israel　this　was　not
thought　strange　or　degrading；　indeed；　it　was　regarded　a　crime　to　allow
children　to　grow　up　in　ignorance　of　useful　labor。　By　the　command　of　God
every　child　was　taught　some　trade；　even　though　he　was　to　be　educated　for
holy　office。　Many　of　the　religious　teachers　supported　themselves　by　manual
labor。　Even　so　late　as　the　time　of　the　apostles；　Paul　and　Aquila　were　no
less　honored　because　they　earned　a　livelihood　by　their　trade　of　tentmaking。

The　chief　subjects　of　study　in　these　schools　were　the　law　of　God；　with　the
instructions　given　to　Moses；　sacred　history；　sacred　music；　and　poetry。　The
manner　of　instruction　was　far　different　from　that　in　the　theological　schools
of　the　present　day；　from　which　many　students　graduate　with　less　real
knowledge　of　God　and　religious　truth　than　when　they　entered。　In　those
schools　of　the　olden　time　it　was　the　grand　object　of　all　study　to　learn　the

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will　of　God　and　man's　duty　toward　Him。　In　the　records　of　sacred　history　were
traced　the　footsteps　of　Jehovah。　The　great　truths　set　forth　by　the　types
were　brought　to　view；　and　faith　grasped　the　central　object　of　all　that
systemthe　Lamb　of　God　that　was　to　take　away　the　sin　of　the　world。

A　spirit　of　devotion　was　cherished。　Not　only　were　students　taught　the　duty
of　prayer；　but　they　were　taught　how　to　pray；　how　to　approach　their　Creator；
how　to　exercise　faith　in　Him；　and　how　to　understand　and　obey　the　teachings
of　His　Spirit。　Sanctified　intellects　brought　forth　from　the　treasure　house
of　God　things　new　and　old；　and　the　Spirit　of　God　was　manifested　in　prophecy
and　sacred　song。

Music　was　made　to　serve　a　holy　purpose；　to　lift　the　thoughts　to　that　which
is　pure；　noble；　and　elevating；　and　to　awaken　in　the　soul　devotion　and
gratitude　to　God。　What　a　contrast　between　the　ancient　custom　and　the　uses　to
which　music　is　now　too　often　devoted！　How　many　employ　this　gift　to　exalt
self；　instead　of　using　it　to　Glorify　God！　A　love　for　music　leads　the　unwary
to　unite　with　world　lovers　in　pleasure　gatherings　where　God　has　forbidden
His　children　to　go。　Thus　that　which　is　a　great　blessing　when　rightly　used；
becomes　one　of　the　most　successful　agencies　by　which　Satan　allures　the　mind
from　duty　and　from　the　contemplation　of　eternal　things。

Music　forms　a　part　of　God's　worship　in　the　courts　above；　and　we　should
endeavor；　in　our　songs　of　praise；　to　approach　as　nearly　as　possible　to　the
harmony　of　the　heavenly　choirs。　The　proper　training　of　the　voice　is　an
important　feature　in　education　and　should　not　be　neglected。　Singing；　as　a
part　of　religious　service；　is　as　much　an　act　of　worship　as　is　prayer。　The
heart　must　feel　the　spirit　of　the　song　to　give　it　right　expression。

How　wide　the　difference　between　those　schools　taught　by　the　prophets　of　God
and　our　modern　institutions　of　learning！　How　few　schools　are　to　be　found
that　are　not　governed　by　the　maxims　and　customs　of　the　world！　There　is　a
deplorable　lack　of　proper　restraint　and　judicious　discipline。　The　existing
ignorance　of　God's　word　among　a　people　professedly　Christian　is　alarming。
Superficial　talk；　mere　sentimentalism；　passes　for　instruction　in　morals　and
religion。　The　justice　and　mercy　of　God；　the　beauty　of　holiness　and　the　sure
reward　of　rightdoing；　the　heinous　character　of　sin　and　the　certainty　of　its
terrible　results；

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are　not　impressed　upon　the　minds　of　the　young。　Evil　associates　are
instructing　the　youth　in　the　ways　of　crime；　dissipation；　and　licentiousness。

Are　there　not　some　lessons　which　the　educators　of　our　day　might　learn　with
profit　from　the　ancient　schools　of　the　Hebrews？　He　who　created　man　has
provided　for　his　development　in　body　and　mind　and　soul。　Hence；　real　success
in　education　depends　upon　the　fidelity　with　which　men　carry　out　the
Creator's　plan。

The　true　object　of　education　is　to　restore　the　image　of　God　in　the　soul。　In
the　beginning　God　created　man　in　His　own　likeness。　He　endowed　him　with　noble
qualities。　His　mind　was　well　balanced；　and　all　the　powers　of　his　being　were
harmonious。　But　the　Fall　and　its　effects　have　perverted　these　gifts。　Sin　has
marred　and　well…nigh　obliterated　the　image　of　God　in　man。　It　was　to　restore
this　that　the　plan　of　salvation　was　devised；　and　a　life　of　probation　was
granted　to　man。　To　bring　him　back　to　the　perfection　in　which　he　was　first
created　is　the　great　object　of　lifethe　object　that　underlies　every　other。
It　is　the　work　of　parents　and　teachers；　in　the　education　of　the　youth；　to
co…operate　with　the　divine　purpose；　and　is　so　doing　they　are　〃laborers
together　with　God。〃　1　Corinthians　3：9。

All　the　varied　capabilities　that　men　possessof　mind　and　soul　and　bodyare
given　them　by　God；　to　be　so　employed　as　to　reach　the　highest　possible　degree
of　excellence。　But　this　cannot　be　a　selfish　and　exclusive　culture；　for　the
character　of　God；　whose　likeness　we　are　to　receive；　is　benevolence　and　love。
Every　faculty；　every　attribute；　with　which　the　Creator　has　endowed　us　is　to
be　employed　for　His　glory　and　for　the　uplifting　of　our　fellow　men。　And　in
this　employment　is　found　its　purest；　noblest；　and　happiest　exercise。

Were　this　principle　given　the　attention　which　its　importance　demands；　there
would　be　a　radical　change　in　some　of　the　current　methods　of　education。
Instead　of　appealing　to　pride　and　selfish　ambition；　kindling　a　spirit　of
emulation；　teachers　would　endeavor　to　awaken　the　love　for　goodness　and　truth
and　beautyto　arouse　the　desire　for　excellence。　The　student　would　seek　the
development　of　God's　gifts　in　himself；　not　to　excel　others；　but　to　fulfill
the　purpose　of　the　Creator　and　to　receive　His　likeness。　Instead　of　being
directed　to　mere　earthly　standards；　or　being　actuated

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by　the　desire　for　self…exaltation；　which　in　itself　dwarfs　and　belittles；　the
mind　would　be　directed　to　the　Creator；　to　know　Him　and　to　become　like　Him。

〃The　fear　of　the　Lord　is　the　beginning　of　wisdom：　and　the　knowledge　of　the
Holy　is　understanding。〃　Proverbs　9：10。　The　great　work　of　life　is　character
building；　and　a　knowledge　of　God　is　the　foundation　of　all　true　education。　To
impart　this　knowledge　and　to　mold　the　character　in　harmony　with　it　should　be
the　object　of　the　teacher's　work。　The　law　of　God　is　a　reflection　of　His
character。　Hence　the　psalmist　says；　〃All　Thy　commandments　are
righteousness；〃　and　〃through　Thy　precepts　I　get　understanding。〃　Psalm
119：172；　104。　God　has　revealed　Himself　to　us　in　His　word　and　in　the　works　of
creation。　Through　the　volume　of　inspiration　and　the　book　of　nature　we　are　to
obtain　a　knowledge　of　God。

It　is　a　law　of　the　mind　that　it　gradually　adapts　itself　to　the　subjects　upon
which　it　is　trained　to　dwell。　If　occupied　with　commonplace　matters　only；　it
will　become　dwarfed　and　enfeebled。　If　never　required　to　grapple　with
difficult　problems；　it　will　after　a　time　almost　lose　the　power　of　growth。　As
an　educating　power　the　Bible　is　without　a　rival。　In　the　word　of　God　the　mind
finds　subject　for　the　deepest　thought；　the　loftiest　aspiration。　The　Bible　is
the　most　instructive　history　that　men　possess。　It　came　fresh　from　the
fountain　of　eternal　truth；　and　a　divine　hand　has　preserved　its　purity
through　all　the　ages。　It　lights　up　the　far…distant　past；　where　human
research　seeks　vainly　to　penetrate。　In　God's　word　we　behold　the　power　that
laid　the　foundation　of　the　earth　and　that　stretched　out　the　heavens。　Here
only　can　we　find　a　history　of　our　race　unsullied　by　human　prejudice　or　human
pride。　Here　are　recorded　the　struggles；　the　defeats；　and　the　victories　of
the　greatest　men　this　world　has　ever　known。　Here　the　great　problems　of　duty
and　destiny　are　unfolded。　The　curtain　that　separates　the　visible　from　the
invisible　world　is　lifted；　and　we　behold　the　conflict　of　the　opposing　forces
of　good　and　evil；　from　the　first　entrance　of　sin　to　the　final　triumph　of
righteousness　and　truth；　and　all　is　but　a　revelation　of　the　character　of
God。　In　the　reverent　contemplation　of　the　truths　presented　in　His　word　the
mind　of　the　student　is　brought　into　communion　with　the　infinite　min