Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

them. If these youthful disciples are overcome by temptation, I hope that you
who are older in experience, who have yourselves shown but little strength to
resist the tempter's power, will not deal with them harshly, or regard their
efforts with indifference. I entreat you to be as patient with these lambs of
the flock as you wish others to be with you. God has so constituted us that
even the strongest desire sympathy. How much more then do children need
it. Even a look of compassion will often soothe and strengthen the tried and
tempted child.
Jesus calls to every wanderer, "My son, give me thine heart;" "Return
unto me, and I will return unto you, and will heal all your backslidings." The
youth cannot be happy without the love of Jesus. He is waiting with pitying
tenderness to hear the confessions of the wayward, and to accept their
penitence. He watches for some return of gratitude from us, as the mother
watches for the smile of recognition from her beloved child. The great God
teaches us to call him Father. He would have us understand how earnestly
and tenderly his heart yearns over us in all our trials and temptations. "Like
as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him." The
mother might sooner forget her child than God forget one soul that trusts in
him.
The young should be constantly growing in grace, and in a knowledge of
the truth. The Creator of all things, with whom are all the treasures of
wisdom, has promised to be the guide of their youth. He who has conquered
in their behalf all the powers of evil asks for their homage. There can be no
higher knowledge than the knowledge of Him whom to know aright is life
and peace; no purer, deeper affection than the love of our Saviour.
Many parents have through mistaken fondness permitted their children
to grow up with habits of selfish gratification, perhaps have indulged them
because this required less effort than the exercise of proper restraint. They
should now labor earnestly and prayerfully to undo their own past work, and
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