Life Of Christ 2


CHRIST  retained  a  perfect  identity  of 

character, although surrounded by unfavorable 

 influences,  and placed in  every variety 

of  circumstances.  Nothing  supernatural 

occurred  during the first  thirty years  of his 

life  at Nazareth which  would attract the    

attention of the people  to  himself.  The    

apocrypha  of  the  New  Testament  attempts  to 

supply the silence  of  the  Scriptures in    

reference  to  the  early life  of  Christ,  by  

giving a fancy sketch  of  his  childhood  years. 

These  writers  relate  wonderful  incidents 

and miracles, which  characterized his 

childhood, and  distinguished  him  from  other 

children.  They relate  fictitious  tales,  and 

frivolous  miracles,  which  they  say  he 

 wrought,  attributing to  Christ the senseless 

and  needless  display  of  his  divine  power, 

and falsifying his  character  by  attributing 

to  him  acts  of  revenge,  and  deeds  of   

mischief,  which  were  cruel  and ridiculous.

In what  marked  contrast  is  the  history 

of  Christ,  as  recorded  by  the  evangelists, 

which is  beautiful  in  its natural simplicity, 

with  these unmeaning stories,  and fictitious 

tales.  They  are not  at  all  in  harmony with 

his  character.  They  are  more  after  the 

order  of  the  novels  that  are written,  which 

have  no  foundation  in  truth;  but  the    

characters  delineated  are  of  fancy creating.

The  life  of Christ  was distinguished from 

the  generality  of  children.  His  strength 

of moral  character,  and  his  firmness,  ever 

led him  to  be  true  to  his  sense  of  duty, and 

to  adhere  to  the  principles  of  right,  from 

which  no  motive,  however  powerful,  could 

move him.  Money or pleasure, applause  or 

censure,  could  not  purchase  or flatter him 

to  consent  to  a  wrong  action.  He  was 

strong to resist temptation,  wise to  discover 

evil,  and  firm  to  abide  faithful  to  his    

convictions.

The wicked  and  unprincipled would  flatter 

  and  portray the  pleasures  of  sinful   

indulgences;  but  his  strength  of  principle 

was  strong  to  resist the suggestions  of Sa- 

tan.  His penetration  had  been  cultivated, 

that  he  could  discern  the  voice  of  the 

tempter.  He would  not  swerve from  duty 

to  obtain the favor  of  any.  He would  not 

sell  his  principles  for  human  praise,  or  to 

avoid reproach  and  the  envy  and hatred of 

those who were enemies to righteousness and 

true goodness.

The life of Christ was passed in simplicity 

and  purity.  He  possessed  patience which 

nothing  could ruffle,  and truthfulness which 

would  not  be  turned  aside.  His  willing 

hands  and  feet  were  ever  ready to  serve 

others,  and lighten  the  burdens  of  his  pa- 

rents.  His  wisdom  was  great,  but  it was 

child-like,  and  increased  with  his  years. 

His childhood possessed peculiar gentleness,

and marked  loveliness.  His  character was 

full  of  beauty,  and unsullied perfection.

It  was  said  of  him,  "The  child  grew, 

waxed strong in spirit,  was  filled  with    

wisdom,  and  the grace  of God was  upon  him." 

Important  and useful lessons  may be  drawn 

from the life of Christ.  What examples for

parents in  educating  their  children!  And 

what  a  pattern we  here find for  all  children 

and youth!

If children  would  have firm  constitutions 

they must live  naturally.  The  path of   

obedience is  exalted by the Majesty of Heaven 

coming  to  the  earth,  and  condescending 

himself  to  become  a  little  child, and  living 

simply  and  naturally,  as  children  should 

live,  submitting  to  restraint  and  privation, 

giving  youth  an  example  of faithful  industry, 

 showing them  by his own life that body 

and  soul  are  in  harmony with  natural laws.

Christ's example shows  that  a sound    

constitution  is  necessary for  strength of  

intellect, and high moral  attainments, which 

 are  susceptible  to  the  divine  influences  of 

 the Spirit  of  God.  Although  children  live  in 

a fallen world,  they need  not  be  corrupted 

by vice.  They may be happy, and through 

the merits  of  Christ  attain Heaven  at  last. 

But  happiness must  be sought  in the right 

way,  and  from  the  right  source.  Some 

think  they may surely find  happiness  in  a 

course  of  indulgence in sinful  pleasures,  or 

in  deceptive worldly attractions.  And some 

sacrifice  physical  and  moral  obligations, 

thinking  to  find  happiness,  and  they  lose 

both soul  and body.  Others will seek  their 

happiness in  the indulgence of an  unnatural 

appetite,  and  consider  the  indulgence  of 

taste  more  desirable  than  health  and  life. 

Many suffer  themselves  to  be  enchained  by 

sensual  passions,  and will sacrifice physical 

strength, intellect,  and moral  powers, to  the 

gratification of lust.  They will bring themselves 

to  untimely graves,  and  in  the Judgment 

will  be  charged with self-murder.

Is this  the  happiness  desirable  which  is 

to  be found in  the  path  of disobedience  and 

transgression  of  physical  and  moral  law? 

Christ's  life  points  out  the  true source  of 

happiness,  and  how  it  is  to  be  attained. 

His  life  points  the  direct  and  only  path to 

Heaven.  Let the voice of wisdom be  heard. 

Let  her  mark  out  the  path.  "Her  ways 

are ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all her paths 

are peace."

Temptations  are  on  every side  to  allure 

the steps  of  youth to  their  ruin.  The sad 

deficiency in the education of children leaves 

them  weak  and  unguarded,  vascillating  in 

character, feeble  in  intellect,  and  deficient 

in moral strength, so  that  so  far from    

imitating  the  life  of  Christ,  the  youth    

generally  are  like  a  reed  trembling in the

 wind. 

They  have  not  physical  constitution,  or 

moral power,  because  they yield to  

temptations. 

   Through  sinful  indulgences,  they 

stain  their  purity,  and  their  manners  are 

corrupted.  They are impatient of restraint, 

and  flatter  themselves  if  they  could  only 

have  their  own  way  they should  then  be 

very happy.

Parental restraint is  irksome.  Children 

generally  are  not  educated  to  self-control, 

and  to  habits  of  industry  and  obedience. 

They  have  superficial  characters.  They 

have  followed  inclination  instead  of  duty. 

They  are  relieved  from  responsibility  and 

care,  and  grow  up  worthless.  If  children 

and youth would seek  their highest  earthly 

good  they must  look  for it  in  the  path  of 

faithful  obedience.  A  sound  constitution, 

which  is  the greatest earthly prize, can only 

be  obtained  by  a  denial  of  unnatural    

appetite.  If they would  be  happy  indeed,  they 

should  cheerfully seek  to  be  found  at  the 

post  of duty, doing the work which devolves

upon  them  with  fidelity,  conforming  their 

hearts  and lives  to  the perfect  pattern.

They will  then  in their efforts  to  preserve 

integrity of  soul,  have  the  power  of  God, 

and  his  Spirit and  grace will  strengthen the 

intellect.  In their efforts to train the minds 

for  usefulness, they will  be a blessing to   

others, instead  of seeking to  please 

themselves. 

And  they  will  be  shielded  by  the  strong 

bands  of  moral obligation,  and will  not  be 

inclined  to  give  license  to  the  evil  

propensities  of  the  heart.  They will  then  be 

happy  indeed.  They will  then  feel  that 

they have  a  title to  Heaven,  and  can  enjoy 

the  present life,  and  a foretaste of  Heaven 

to  come.



Ellen White




SPEAK  THE  TRUTH. The  ground-work 

of  character  is  veracity,  or  the  habit  of 

truthfulness.  That  virtue lies at  the    

foundation of every word said.  How  common it 

is  to  hear  parents  say,  "I  have  faith  in 

my  child  so  long  as  he  speaks  the  truth. 

He may have  many faults;  but  I  know he 

will  not  deceive.  I  build  on  that  confidence.” 

They  are  right.  It  is  lawful  and  just 

ground  to  build upon.  So long as the truth 

remains in  the  child,  there  is  something  to 

depend upon;  but when  the  truth  is  gone,

all is  lost,  unless  the  child  is  speedily won 

back  to  veracity.  Children, did  you  eve 

tell  a  lie?  If so, you are in  imminent danger. 

   Return  at  once,  little reader,    

enter the stronghold of truth, and from it may

you never again  depart.





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