You have brought children into the world who have had no voice in regard to their existence. You have made yourselves responsible in a great measure for their future happiness, their eternal well-being. The burden is upon you, whether you are sensible of it or not, to train these children for God, to watch with jealous care the first approach of the wily foe and be prepared to raise a standard against him. Build a fortification of prayer and faith about your children, and exercise diligent watching thereunto. You are not secure a moment against the attacks of Satan. You have no time to rest from watchful, earnest labor. You should not sleep a moment at your post. This is a most important warfare. Eternal consequences are involved. It is life or death with you and your family. Your only safety is to break your hearts before God and seek the kingdom of heaven as little children. You cannot be victors in this warfare if you continue to pursue the course you have pursued. You are not very near the kingdom of heaven. {2T 397.3}

[Du har en fej indstilling. Når du danner dig en mening, tænker du ikke sagen ordentlig igennem og overvejer følgerne af at holde fast på dine opfattelser. Du knytter dem på en uovervejet måde ind i samtaler og bønner, selv om du ved at din hustru er uenig i dine synspunkter. I stedet for at vise respekt for hendes følelser og undgå at komme ind på de emner hvor modsætningerne er størst, har du med overlæg dvælet ved ømtålelige synspunkter. Med en nærmest ufølsom hårdhed har du givet udtryk for dine meninger, uden at tage hensyn til dem du omgås. Du har følt at andre ikke havde nogen ret til at hævde synspunkter som var forskellige fra dine. Sådanne frugter vokser ikke på det træ som Kristus har plantet. Det kristne hjem side 88]