Enticing Sights and Sounds
311
corrupt passions are aroused by beholding and by reading. The heart
is corrupted through the imagination. The mind takes pleasure in con-
templating scenes which awaken the lower and baser passions. These
vile images, seen through defiled imagination, corrupt the morals and
prepare the deluded, infatuated beings to give loose rein to lustful
passions. Then follow sins and crimes which drag beings formed in
the image of God down to a level with the beasts, sinking them at last
in perdition
I Will See No Wicked Thing—Parents must exercise unceasing
watchfulness, that their children be not lost to God. The vows of David,
recorded in the 101st Psalm, should be the vows of all upon whom
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rest the responsibilities of guarding the influences of the home. The
psalmist declares: “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate
the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward
heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso
privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an
high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon
the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh
in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not
dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
Say firmly: “I will not spend precious moments in reading that
which will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of
service to others. I will devote my time and my thoughts to acquiring
a fitness for God’s service. I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful
things. My ears are the Lord’s, and I will not listen to the subtle
reasoning of the enemy. My voice shall not in any way be subject to a
will that is not under the influence of the Spirit of God. My body is
the temple of the Holy Spirit, and every power of my being shall be
consecrated to worthy pursuits.
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6
Testimonies For The Church 2, 410
.
7
Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students, 119
.
8
Testimonies For The Church 7, 64
.