Counsels for the Church - Ellen G. White

with fearful reports. Samuel loved God; he kept his soul in such close
connection with heaven that an angel was sent to talk with him in reference
to the sins of Eli's sons, which were corrupting Israel.
The Result of Moral Pollution
Some who make a high profession do not understand the sin of selfabuse
and its sure results. Long-established habit has blinded their
understanding. They do not realize the exceeding sinfulness of this degrading
sin, which is enervating the system and destroying their brain nerve power.
Moral principle is exceedingly weak when it conflicts with established habit.
Solemn messages from heaven cannot forcibly impress the heart that is not
fortified against the indulgence of this degrading vice. The sensitive nerves
of the brain have lost their healthy tone by morbid excitation to gratify an
unnatural desire for sensual indulgence.
Moral pollution has done more than every other evil to cause the race to
degenerate. It is practiced to an alarming extent and brings on disease of
almost every description.
Parents do not generally suspect that their children understand anything
about this vice. In very many cases the parents are the real sinners. They
have abused their marriage privileges, and by indulgence have strengthened
their animal passions. And as these have strengthened, the moral and
intellectual faculties have become weak. The spiritual has been overborne by
the brutish. Children are born with the animal propensities largely developed,
the parents' own stamp of character having been given to them. Children
born to these parents will almost invariably take naturally to the disgusting
habits of secret vice. The sins of the parents will be visited upon their
children because the parents have given them the stamp of their own lustful
propensities.
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