Christian Christian AssociationAssociation

LOVESICK LOVESICK SENTIMENTALISMSENTIMENTALISM

TRIFLING WITH HEARTS.--TO TRIFLE WITH HEARTS IS A CRIME OF NO SMALL MAGNITUDE IN THE SIGHT OF A HOLY GOD. AND YET SOME WILL SHOW PREFERENCE FOR YOUNG LADIES/YOUNG MEN AND CALL OUT THEIR AFFECTIONS, AND THEN GO THEIR WAY AND FORGET ALL ABOUT THE WORDS THEY HAVE SPOKEN AND THEIR EFFECT. A NEW FACE ATTRACTS THEM, AND THEY REPEAT THE SAME WORDS, DEVOTE TO ANOTHER THE SAME ATTENTIONS. {AH 57.1}

Confide in Godly Parents.--If you are blessed with God-fearing parents, seek counsel of them. Open to them your hopes and plans; learn the lessons which their life experiences have taught. {AH 73.2} If children would be more familiar with their parents, if they would confide in them and unburden to them their joys and sorrows, they would save themselves many a future heartache. When perplexed to know what course is right, let them lay the matter just as they view it before their parents, and ask advice of them. Who are so well calculated to point out their dangers as godly parents? Who can understand their peculiar temperaments so well as they? Children who are Christians will esteem above every earthly blessing the love and approbation of their God-fearing parents. The parents can sympathize with the children and pray for and with them that God will shield and guide them. ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE THEY WILL POINT THEM TO THEIR NEVER-FAILING FRIEND AND COUNSELOR. {AH 73.3

Attachments formed in childhood have often resulted in a very wretched union, or in a disgraceful separation. Early connections, if formed without the consent of parents, have seldom proved happy. The young affections should be restrained until the period arrives when sufficient age and experience will make it honorable and safe to unfetter them. Those who will not be restrained, will be in danger of dragging out an unhappy existence. {SA 52.1}

Since both men and women have a part in home-making, boys as well as girls should gain a knowledge of household duties. To make a bed and put a room in order, to wash dishes, to prepare a meal, to wash and repair his own clothing, is a training that need not make any boy less manly; it will make him happier and more useful. And if girls, in turn, could learn to harness and drive a horse, and to use the saw and the hammer, as well as the rake and the hoe, they would be better fitted to meet the emergencies of life. {Ed 216.3}

Most of men and women have acted, in entering the marriage relation, as though the only question for them to settle was, whether they loved each other. But they should realize that a responsibility rests upon them in the marriage relation farther than this. {SA 104.1}

Some children begin to excite their animal passions in their infancy; and, as they increase in years, the lustful passions grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength. Their minds are not at rest. Girls desire the society of boys; and boys, that of the girls. Their deportment is not reserved and modest. They are bold and forward, taking indecent liberties. Their corrupt habits of self-abuse have debased their minds, and tainted their souls. Vile thoughts, novel-reading, low books, and love-stories, excite the imagination, and just suit their depraved minds... Their corrupt habits of self-abuse have debased their minds, and tainted their souls. Vile thoughts, novel-reading, low books, and love-stories, excite the imagination, and just suit their depraved minds. They do not love work. They complain of fatigue when engaged in labor. Their backs ache. Their heads ache. Is there not sufficient cause? Are they fatigued because of their labor? No. {SA 180.1}

Young men and women are arising to engage in the work of God, some of whom have scarcely any sense of the sacredness and responsibility of the work. . . . They talk nonsense, and sport with young girls and boys, while almost daily listening to the most solemn, soul-stirring truths.--Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 473. (1875) {Ev 639.3}

Young men and women are arising to engage in the work of God, some of whom have scarcely any sense of the sacredness and responsibility of the work. . . . They talk nonsense, and sport with young girls and boys, while almost daily listening to the most solemn, soul-stirring truths.--Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 473. (1875) {Ev 639.3}

Sentimentalism to Be Shunned as Leprosy.--Imagination, lovesick sentimentalism, should be guarded against as would be the leprosy. Very many of the young men and women in this age of the world are lacking in virtue; therefore great caution is needed. . . . Those who have preserved a virtuous character, although they may lack in other desirable qualities, may be of real moral worth. {AH 51.4}. Courtship and marriage occupy the mind, to the exclusion of higher and nobler thoughts. {AH 51.5}. The young are bewitched with the mania for courtship and marriage. Lovesick sentimentalism prevails. Great vigilance and tact are needed to guard the youth from these wrong influences. {AH 52.1}

Turn your mind away from romantic projects. You mingle with your religion a romantic, lovesick sentimentalism, which does not elevate, but only lowers. It is not yourself alone who is affected; others are injured by your example and influence. . . . Daydreaming and romantic castle building have unfitted you for usefulness. You have lived in an imaginary world; you have been an imaginary martyr and an imaginary Christian. {AH 52.4}

If a young girl just entering her teens is accosted with familiarity by a boy of her own age, or older, she should be taught to so resent this that no such advances will ever be repeated. When a girl's company is frequently sought by boys or young men, something is wrong. That young girl needs a mother to show her her place, to restrain her, and teach her what belongs to a girl of her age. {CG 455.3}

If a young girl just entering her teens is accosted with familiarity by a boy of her own age, or older, she should be taught to so resent this that no such advances will ever be repeated. When a girl's company is frequently sought by boys or young men, something is wrong. That young girl needs a mother to show her her place, to restrain her, and teach her what belongs to a girl of her age. {CG 455.3}

We need to be married to We need to be married to Jesus, Jesus,

FIRST!!!FIRST!!!

Isa 54:5Isa 54:5 For thy Maker For thy Maker isis thine thine husband…husband…

Jer 3:14Jer 3:14 Turn, O backsliding Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…am married unto you…

Rom 7:4Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married Christ; that ye should be married to another, to another, eveneven to him who is to him who is raised from the dead…raised from the dead…

Councils on Health 590.2Councils on Health 590.2

Keep close to Jesus. By Keep close to Jesus. By beholding Him we become beholding Him we become changed into His likeness. changed into His likeness. Remember that you are not Remember that you are not training for courtship or training for courtship or marriage, but for the marriage of marriage, but for the marriage of Christ.Christ.

Messages to Young People 76Messages to Young People 76 Not only does God require you to Not only does God require you to

control your thoughts, but also your control your thoughts, but also your passions and affections. Your passions and affections. Your salvation depends upon your salvation depends upon your governing yourself in these things. governing yourself in these things. Passion and affection are powerful Passion and affection are powerful agents. If misapplied, if set in agents. If misapplied, if set in operation through wrong motives, if operation through wrong motives, if misplaced, they are powerful to misplaced, they are powerful to accomplish your ruin, and leave you accomplish your ruin, and leave you a miserable wreck, without God and a miserable wreck, without God and without hope.without hope.

Loves OriginLoves Origin

I John 4:7,8,16I John 4:7,8,16

Beloved, let us love one another: for Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love… And we have God; for God is love… And we have known and believed the love that known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. and God in him.

Messages to Young People 435Messages to Young People 435

Love is a precious gift, which Love is a precious gift, which we receive from Jesus. Pure we receive from Jesus. Pure and holy affection is not a and holy affection is not a feeling, feeling, but a principlebut a principle. . Those who are actuated by Those who are actuated by true love are neither true love are neither unreasonable nor blind.unreasonable nor blind.

Messages to Young People 440Messages to Young People 440

Only where Christ reigns, Only where Christ reigns, can there be deep, true, can there be deep, true, unselfish love. Then soul unselfish love. Then soul will be knit with soul, and will be knit with soul, and the two lives will blend in the two lives will blend in harmony.harmony.

General Conference Daily Bulletin General Conference Daily Bulletin February 6, 1893 par. 15 February 6, 1893 par. 15

Be jealous of yourself, never Be jealous of yourself, never become puffed up, never flatter become puffed up, never flatter yourself or accept flattering from yourself or accept flattering from any man or woman. When any man or woman. When persons attempt to flatter you, persons attempt to flatter you, tell them they are giving voice to tell them they are giving voice to the temptations of Satan. the temptations of Satan.

1Th 5:221Th 5:22 ““Abstain from Abstain from all appearance all appearance of evil.”of evil.”