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

strains more grievous to God than harsh, inharmonious notes are to their own
fine musical ear.
Many may be reached best through sacred pictures, illustrating scenes in
the life and mission of Christ. By this means truths may be vividly imprinted
upon their minds, never to be effaced. The Roman Catholic church
understands this fact, and appeals to the senses of the people through the
charm of sculpture and paintings. While we have no sympathy for image
worship, which is condemned by the law of God, we hold that it is proper to
take advantage of that almost universal love of pictures in the young, to
fasten in their minds valuable moral truths, to bind the gospel to their hearts
by beautiful imagery illustrating the great moral principles of the Bible. Even
so our Saviour illustrated his sacred lessons by the imagery found in God's
created works.
It will not do to lay down an iron rule by which every member of the
family is forced into the same discipline. It is better to exert a milder sway,
and when any special lesson is required, to reach the consciences of the
youth through their individual tastes, and marked points of character. While
there should be a uniformity in the family discipline, it should be varied to
meet the wants of different members of the family. It should be the parents'
study not to arouse the combativeness of their children, not to excite them to
anger and rebellion, but to interest them, and inspire them with a desire to
attend to the highest intelligence and perfection of character. This can be
done in a spirit of Christian sympathy and forbearance, the parents realizing
the peculiar dangers of their children, and firmly, yet kindly, restraining their
propensities to sin.
The parents, especially the father, should guard against the danger of
their children learning to look upon him as a detective, peering into all their
actions, watching and criticising them, ready to seize upon and punish them
for every misdemeanor. The father's conduct upon all occasions should be
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