The entire family love display. The mother is not a prudent, dignified woman. She is not qualified to bring up children. To dress her children to make a show is of greater consequence to her than the inward adorning. She has not disciplined herself. Her will has not been brought into conformity to the will of God. Her heart is not right with God. She is a stranger to the operation of His Spirit upon the heart, bringing the desires and affections into conformity to the obedience of Christ. She does not possess ennobling qualities of mind and does not discern sacred things. She has let her children do as they pleased. The fearful experience that she has had with two of her elder children has not made the deep impression on her mind that the circumstances demanded. She has educated her children to love dress, vanity, and folly. She has not disciplined her two younger girls. A D, under a proper influence, would be a worthy young man; but he has much to learn. He follows inclination rather than duty. He loves to follow his own will and pleasure, and has not a correct knowledge of the duties devolving upon a Christian. Self-gratification, and his own inclination, he would gladly interpret to be duty. Self-gratification he has not overcome. He has a work to do to clear his spiritual vision, that he may understand what it is to be sanctified to God, and learn the high claims of God upon him. The serious defects in his education have affected his life. {3T 29.2} If, with his good qualifications, Brother B were well balanced and a faithful foreman of the office, his labor would be of great value to the office, and he could earn double wages. But for the past years, considering his deficiency, with his unconsecrated influence, the office could better afford to do without him, even if his services could be had for nothing. Brother and Sister B have not learned the lesson of economy. The gratification of the taste, and the desire for pleasure and display, have had an overpowering influence upon them. Small wages would be of more advantage to them than large, for they would use all as they pass along, were it ever so much. They would enjoy as they go, and then when affliction draws upon them, would be wholly unprepared. Twenty dollars a week would be laid out about the same as twelve. Had Brother and Sister B been economical managers, denying themselves, they could ere this have had a home of their own, and besides this have had means to draw upon in case of adversity. But they will not economize as others have done, upon whom they have sometimes been dependent. If they neglect to learn these lessons, their characters will not be found perfect in the day of God. {3T 30.1}

Hele familien holder af at vise sig. Moderen er ikke en klog, værdig kvinde. Hun er ikke kvalificeret til at opdrage børn. At klæde sine børn for at vise frem er af større betydning for hende end den indre besmykkelse. Hun har ikke opdraget sig selv. Hendes vilje er ikke bragt i overensstemmelse med Guds vilje. Hendes hjerte er ikke ret med Gud. (30) Hun er fremmed over for hans Ånds virke på hjertet, bringe ønsker og kærlighed i overensstemmelse med Kristi lydighed. Hun har ikke sindets forædlende egenskaber og ser ikke de hellige ting. Hun har ladet sine børn gøre hvad det behager dem. Den frygtelige erfaring hun havde med to af hendes ældre børn har ikke gjort noget dybt indtryk på hendes sind af hvad omstændighederne påkræver. Hun har oplært sine børn til kærlighed for klæder, forfængelighed og tåbelighed. Hun har ikke opdrage sine to yngre piger. Under en rigtig indflydelse, ville A D være en værdig ung mand; men han har meget at lære. Han følger snarere tilbøjelighederne end pligten. Han elsker at følge sin egen vilje og behag og har ikke en rigtig kundskab til de pligter der udvikler en kristen. Selvtilfredsstillelse og sin egen tilbøjelighed, vil han gladelig udvikle som en pligt. Han har ikke overvundet selvtilfredsstillelse. Han har et arbejde at gøre med at afklare sin åndelige synsevne, så han kan forstå hvad det vil sige at helliges til Gud og erfare de høje krav Gud har på ham. Denne alvorlige mangel i hans uddannelse har påvirket hans liv. Hvis bror B, med sine gode kvalifikationer, var vel afbalanceret og en trofast formand på kontoret, ville hans arbejde være at stor værdi for kontoret og han kunne tjene dobbelt løn. Men i de sidste år, i betragtning af hans mangler, med hans uhellige indflydelse, kunne kontoret bedre klare sig uden ham, selv hvis man kunne få hans arbejde for ingenting. [Bror og søster B har ingen sans for økonomi.] Smagens tilfredsstillelse og ønsket om fornøjelser og misbrug, har haft en overmægtig indflydelse på dem. [De ville opbruge alle pengene, uanset hvor meget de havde. De ville nyde livet fra dag til dag og når vanskelighederne kom, ville de være helt uforberedt.] Tyve dollars om ugen vil være det samme som tolv. [Dersom bror og søster B havde vist økonomisk sans og havde kunnet give afkald på unødvendige ting, ville de allerede have deres eget hjem. I tillæg kunne de have sparet penge op til at bruge hvis de kom i vanskeligheder. Men de vil ikke spare, i lighed med andre som de til tider har været afhængige af. Dersom de ikke er villige til at lære dette, (31) vil deres karakter være ufuldkommen på Guds store dag. Det kristne hjem side 308]