There are some who depend upon their reasoning powers, and undertake to explain the mysteries of God's word through a process of reasoning; but such will find themselves at last ignorant both of the Scriptures and of the power of God. The Lord has endowed us with reasoning powers, that we may not be blindly credulous in our reception of truth; for reason has its part to act. In searching for truth, the Lord would have us put to the stretch all our powers of mind, that we may be intelligent in the deep things of his word. But let everyone remember that the world by wisdom knew not God; the Spirit of God must make the right impression upon the mind, or the searcher will not discern spiritual things. The Sun of Righteousness must shed forth his bright beams or the darkened mind will not be enlightened.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 1

He who receives the light and walks in it will follow the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. But he who refuses the aid of the Holy Spirit in seeking to understand the word of God, will choose darkness rather than light; for he will walk in the sparks of his own kindling, and will lie down in sorrow. Then, accepting the enlightenment of the divine Spirit, let the youth search the word for themselves, remembering that they are under the tutorship of the greatest Teacher the world ever knew. Jesus has said, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of me.” The Lord would not have any of you rest satisfied with the expositions of others, with the current, popular opinions of those who are termed the leading men. Their expositions are not infallible, and you are not to accept their ideas until you have compared scripture with scripture, and know for yourself that they harmonize with the living oracles. You are to know for yourselves what saith the Scripture. The Lord has revealed his will in his precious word; he has laid out his truth in clear lines, that we all may become familiar with the plan of salvation and its object, and become workmen who need not to be ashamed, but able rightly to divide the word of truth.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 2

In order to do the will of God, we must search his word, that we may know his doctrine, and put to the task all our intrusted ability. We must be diligent in prayer, and fervent in simple, whole-hearted service to God. Those who are engaged as teachers in the Sabbath school should hunger and thirst for divine truth that they may impart this spirit to those under their care, and lead their pupils to seek for truth as for hidden treasure. We do not want our Sabbath schools conducted in such a way as to make hypocrites of the pupils, for such cannot advance the interests of true religion. Then let there be more attention given to seeking God that the Spirit of the Lord may be in your school than that you may have every mechanical arrangement you may desire. High pretensions of any kind are out of place in Sabbath school work, and the mechanical working of the school is of little value if the Spirit of God does not soften and mould the hearts of the teachers and pupils.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 3

Throughout our ranks there must be more earnest devotion to God, and less dependence on form and ceremony. Not only are there Sabbath school teachers who need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, but there are ministers whose lips must be touched with a live coal from off the altar, or they will not reach the souls of the lost. They must be awake to the value of the hidden treasures of truth, and never be satisfied until Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. They cannot refresh others with the waters of life if Christ is not within them as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. There are some who profess to be ministers of Christ whose sole resource is a stated number of old, dry discourses. They preach on certain subjects over and over, and have lost sight of the fact that they might have a recourse to the treasure house of heaven, from which they could bring forth things both new and old. They fail to bring to the people the lessons which Christ taught to his disciples, and the people of God are starving for the bread of life, for they desire to know what they must do to be saved.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 4

Let not the teacher in Sabbath school follow the example of those who do not grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, even though those who minister in the sacred desk have given them such an example. He who would be accepted as a laborer together with God must not be found imitating the tone, manners, or ideas of any other man. He must learn of God, and be endowed with heavenly wisdom. God has given the gift of reason and intellect to one worker the same as he has to another; and according to your ability, you are to put your talents out to the exchangers. The Lord would not have any worker a mere shadow of another whom he admires. The teacher must grow up into the measure of the stature of Christ, not to the measure of some finite erring mortal. You are to “grow in grace,” and where is grace to be found?—Only in Christ, the divine Pattern.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 5

Then let everyone look to Christ and copy the divine Model. Let every worker tax his powers to the utmost to work in harmony with the plan of God. Let him learn in the school of Christ, that he may be wise in instructing others. Those who are committed to the care of the teacher in the Sabbath school will need the wisdom and experience that God can give to the follower of Christ. Let the teacher learn of Christ meekness and lowliness of heart, that he may be a true teacher, and win his pupils to Christ, that they, in turn, may become faithful missionaries in the great harvest-field.SSW October 1, 1892, par. 6

September 1, 1892

December 1, 1892