No movement should be made to lower the standard of education in our school at Battle
Creek. The students should tax the mental powers; every faculty should reach the highest
possible development. Many students come to the college with intellectual habits partially
formed that are a hindrance to them. The most difficult to manage is the habit of performing their
work as a matter of routine, instead of bringing to their studies thoughtful, determined effort to
master difficulties, and to grasp the principles at the foundation of every subject under
consideration. Through the grace of Christ it is in their power to change this habit of routine, and
it is for their best interest and future usefulness rightly to direct the mental faculties, training
them to do service for the wisest Teacher, whose power they may claim by faith. This will give
them success in their intellectual efforts, in accordance with the laws of God. Each student
should feel that, under God, he is to have special training, individual culture; and he should
realize that the Lord requires of him to make all of himself that he possibly can, that he may
teach others also. Indolence, apathy, irregularity, are to be dreaded, and the binding of one's self
to routine is just as much to be dreaded.
I hope that no one will receive the impression from any words I have written, that the standard
of the school is to be in any way lowered. There should be most diligent and thorough education
in our school, and in order to secure this, the wisdom that comes from God must be made first
and most important. The religion of Christ never sanctions physical or mental laziness.
We have before us the case of Daniel and his fellows, who made the most of their
opportunities to obtain an education in the courts of Babylon. When tested by those who
questioned both their faith and their knowledge, they were able to
give a reason of the hope that was in them, and, as well, to stand the examination as to their
knowledge in all learning and wisdom; and it was found that Daniel had understanding also in all
visions and dreams, showing that he had a living connection with the God of all wisdom. "In all
matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times
better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm." Daniel's history is given
us for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. "The secret of the Lord is with
them that fear Him." Daniel was in close connection with God. When the decree went forth from
an angry, furious king, commanding that all the wise men of Babylon should be destroyed,
Daniel and his fellows were sought for to be slain. Then Daniel answered, not with retaliation,
but "with counsel and wisdom," the captain of the king's guard, who was gone forth to slay the
wise men of Babylon. Daniel asked, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" He presented
himself before the king, requesting that time be given him, and his faith in the God he served
prompted him to say that he would show the king the interpretation. "Then Daniel went to his
house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they
would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows
should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto
Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." (Read Daniel 2:20-28.) Here
the interpretation was made known to Daniel.
The close application of those Hebrew students under the training of God was richly
rewarded. While they made diligent effort to secure knowledge, the Lord gave them heavenly
wisdom. The knowledge they gained was of great service to them when brought into strait places.
The Lord God of heaven will not supply the deficiencies that result from mental and spiritual
indolence. When the human agents shall exercise
their faculties to acquire knowledge, to become deep-thinking men; when they, as the greatest
witnesses for God and the truth, shall have won in the field of investigation of vital doctrines
concerning the salvation of the soul, that glory may be given to the God of heaven as supreme,
then even judges and kings will be brought to acknowledge, in the courts of justice, in
parliaments and councils, that the God who made the heavens and the earth is the only true and
living God, the author of Christianity, the author of all truth, who instituted the seventh-day
Sabbath when the foundations of the world were laid, when the morning stars sang together, and
all the sons of God shouted together for joy. All nature will bear testimony, as designed, for the
illustration of the word of God.
The natural and the spiritual are to be combined in the studies of our schools. The operations
of agriculture illustrate the Bible lessons. The laws obeyed by the earth reveal the fact that it is
under the masterly power of an infinite God. The same principles run through the spiritual and
the natural world. Divorce God and His wisdom from the acquisition of knowledge, and you
have a lame, one-sided education, dead to all the saving qualities which give power to man, so
that he is incapable of acquiring immortality through faith in Christ. The author of nature is the
author of the Bible. Creation and Christianity have one God. All who engage in the acquisition of
knowledge should aim to reach the highest round of progress. Let them advance as fast and as far
as they can; let their field of study be as broad as their powers can compass, making God their
wisdom, clinging to Him who is infinite in knowledge, who can reveal the secrets hidden for
ages, who can solve the most difficult problems for minds that believe in Him who only hath
immortality, dwelling in the light that no man can approach unto. The living witness for Christ,
following on to know the Lord, shall know that his goings forth are prepared as the morning.
"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." By honesty and
industry, with a proper care of the body, applying every power of the mind to the acquisition of
knowledge and wisdom in spiritual things, every soul may be complete in Christ, who is the
perfect pattern of a complete man.
He who chooses a course of disobedience to God's law is deciding his future destiny; he is
sowing to the flesh, earning the wages of sin, even eternal destruction, the opposite of life
eternal. Submission to God and obedience to His holy law bring the sure result. "This is life
eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent."
This is a knowledge of such value that no language can describe it; it is of highest worth in this
world, and is far-reaching as eternity. "Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord
which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I
delight, saith the Lord."
When we aim at a low standard, we shall reach only a low standard. We commend to every
student the Book of books as the grandest study for the human intelligence, as the education
essential for this life, and for eternal life. But I did not contemplate a letting down of the
educational standard in the study of the sciences. The light that has been given on these subjects
is clear, and should in no case be disregarded. But if the word of God which giveth light, and
giveth understanding to the simple, had been welcomed into the mind and the soul-temple, as a
counselor, as a guide and instructor, the human agent living by every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth of God, there would have been no need of reproof because of the backslidings of the
students after the blessing of God had come to them in rich rays of divine light, to glow in
heaven's holy fire upon the altar of their hearts. Many allowed amusements to have the
supremacy. This was not the course that
Daniel pursued in obtaining the education which revealed through him the supremacy of
heavenly wisdom above all the wisdom and knowledge of the highest schools in the courts of
proud Babylon. God opens the understanding of men in a marked manner if His words are
brought into the practical life of the student, and the Bible is recognized as the precious,
wonderful book that it is. Nothing is to come between this book and the student as more
essential; for it is that wisdom which, brought into the practical life, makes men wise through
time and through eternity. God is revealed in nature; God is revealed in His word. The Bible is
the most wonderful of all histories, for it is the production of God, not of the finite mind. It
carries us back through the centuries to the beginning of all things, presenting the history of times
and scenes which would otherwise never have been known. It reveals the glory of God in the
working of His providence to save a fallen world. It presents in the simplest language the mighty
power of the gospel, which, received, would cut the chains that bind men to Satan's chariot.
The light shines from the sacred pages, in clear, glorious beams, showing us God, the living
God, as represented in the laws of His government, in the creation of the world, in the heavens
which He hath garnished. His power is to be recognized as the only means of redeeming a world
from degrading superstitions which are so dishonoring to God and man. Every student of the
Bible who not only becomes familiar with revealed truth through the education of the intellect,
but also through its transforming power upon heart and character, will represent the character of
God to our world in a well-ordered life and a godly conversation. The entrance of the word
giveth light. The mind is expanded, elevated, purified. But many have pursued a course of action
inconsistent with the knowledge of truth and the wonderful light through the descent of the Holy
Spirit of God in so marked a manner upon hearts in Battle Creek. Great sin and loss resulted
from the neglect
to walk in the light from heaven. In plunging into amusements, match games, pugilistic
performances, they declared to the world that Christ was not their leader in any of these things.
All this called forth the warning from God. Now that which burdens me is the danger of going
into extremes on the other side; there is no necessity for this; if the Bible is made the guide, the
counselor, it is calculated to have an influence on the mind and heart of the unconverted. Its
study, more than any other, will leave a divine impress. It will enlarge the mind of the candid
student, it will endow it with new impulses and fresh vigor. It will give greater efficiency to the
faculties by bringing them in contact with grand and far-reaching truths. It is ever working,
drawing; it is an effective instrument in the converting of the soul. If the human mind becomes
dwarfed and feeble and inefficient, it is because it is left to deal with commonplace subjects only.
God can and will do a great work for every human being who will open the heart to the word
of God, and let it enter the soul-temple and expel every idol. Summoned to the effort, mind and
heart take in the wonderful disclosures of the revealed will of God. The soul that is converted
will be made stronger to resist evil. In the study of the Bible the converted soul eats the flesh and
drinks the blood of the Son of God, which He himself interprets as the receiving and doing of His
words, that are spirit and life. The Word is made flesh, and dwells among us, in those who
receive the holy precepts of the word of God. The Saviour of the world has left a holy, pure
example for all men. It illuminates, uplifts, and brings immortality to all who obey the divine
requirements. This is my reason for writing to you as I did. God forbid that through lack of
discernment errors should be committed through misunderstanding of my words addressed to you
I have had no other feeling than that of pleasure in knowing that students could come forth from
the study of the words of life with minds expanded, elevated, ennobled,
and with their slumbering powers aroused to engage in the study of the sciences with a keener
appreciation; they may become learned as did Daniel, with a purpose to develop and employ
every power to glorify God. But it becomes every student to learn of God, who giveth wisdom,
how to learn to the best advantage; for all are candidates for immortality.
The Lord God came down to our world clothed with the habiliments of humanity, that He
might work out in His own life the mysterious controversy between Christ and Satan. He
discomfited the powers of darkness. All this history is saying to man, I, your substitute and
surety, have taken your nature upon Me, showing you that every son and daughter of Adam is
privileged to become a partaker of the divine nature, and through Christ Jesus lay hold upon
immortality. Those who are candidates for this great blessing should in everything act in a
manner to represent the advantages of their association with the Lord through His revealed truth
and through the sanctification of his Holy Spirit. This will enlarge the mind of the human agent,
fasten it upon sacred things, set it to receive truth, to comprehend truth, which will lead to the
working out of truth through the sanctification of heart, soul, and character.
Those who have this experience will not condescend to engage in the amusements that have
been so absorbing and so misleading in their influence, revealing that the soul has not been eating
and drinking the words of eternal life. The departure from the simplicity of true godliness on the
part of the students was having an influence to weaken character and lessen mental vigor. Their
advancement in the sciences was retarded, while if they were like Daniel, hearers and doers of
the word of God, they would advance as he did in all branches of learning they entered upon.
Being pure minded, they would become strong minded. Every intellectual faculty would be
sharpened. Let the Bible be received as the only food for the soul, as it is the very best and most
effectual for
the purifying and strengthening of the intellect.--"Special Testimonies on Education," April 22,
1895.