Moral Pollution in Early Times
(1864) Sp. Gifts IV, 121
87. The people who lived before the
flood ate animal food, and gratified their lusts until their cup
of iniquity was full, and God cleansed the earth of its moral
pollution by a flood. . . . {CD 60.1}
Sin has prevailed since the fall. While a few have remained
faithful to God, the great majority have corrupted their ways
before Him. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was on account
of their great wickedness. They gave loose rein to their
intemperate appetites, then to their corrupt passions, until
they were so debased, and their sins were so abominable, that
their cup of iniquity was full, and they were consumed with fire
from heaven. {CD 60.2}
(1873) 3T 163, 164
88. The same sins exist in our day
which brought the wrath of God upon the world in the days of
Noah. Men and women now carry their eating and drinking to
gluttony and drunkenness. This prevailing sin, the indulgence of
perverted appetite, inflamed the passions of men in the days of
Noah, and led to general corruption, until their violence and
crimes reached to heaven, and God washed the earth of its moral
pollution by a flood. {CD 60.3}
The same sins of gluttony and drunkenness benumbed the moral
sensibilities of the inhabitants of Sodom, so that crimes seemed
to be the delight of the men and women of that wicked city.
Christ thus warns the world: "Likewise also as it was in the
days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold,
they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out
of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and
destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the
Son of man is revealed."
Christ has here left us a most important lesson. He does not in
His teaching encourage indolence. His example was the opposite
of this. Christ was an earnest worker. His life was one of
self-denial, diligence, perseverance, industry, and economy. He
would lay before us the danger of making eating and drinking
paramount. He reveals the result of giving up to indulgence of
appetite. The moral powers are enfeebled, so that sin does not
appear sinful. Crimes are winked at, and base passions control
the mind, until general corruption roots out good principles and
impulses, and God is blasphemed. All this is the result of
eating and drinking to excess. This is the very condition of
things which He declares will exist at His second coming.
Will men and women be warned? Will they cherish the light, or
will they become slaves to appetite and base passions? Christ
presents to us something higher to toil for than merely what we
shall eat, and what we shall drink, and wherewithal we shall be
clothed. Eating, drinking, and dressing are carried to such
excess that they become crimes, and are among the marked sins of
the last days, and constitute a sign of Christ's soon coming.
Time, money, and strength, which are the Lord's, but which He
has entrusted to us, are wasted in needless superfluities of
dress, and luxuries for the perverted appetite, which lessen
vitality and bring suffering and decay. It is impossible to
present our bodies a living sacrifice to God, when they are
filled with corruption and disease by our own sinful indulgence.
Prevailing Corruptions Due to Unrestrained Appetite
(1864) Sp. Gifts IV, 124
89. Many marvel that the human race
have so degenerated, physically, mentally, and morally. They do
not understand that it is the violation of God's constitution
and laws, and the violation of the laws of health, that has
produced this sad degeneracy. The transgression of God's
commandments has caused His prospering hand to be removed.
Intemperance in eating and in drinking, and the indulgence of
base passions, have benumbed the fine sensibilities, so that
sacred things have been placed upon a level with common things.
(1864) Sp. Gifts IV, 131
90. Those who permit themselves to
become slaves to a gluttonous appetite, often go still farther,
and debase themselves by indulging their corrupt passions, which
have become excited by intemperance in eating and in drinking.
They give loose rein to their debasing passions, until health
and intellect greatly suffer. The reasoning faculties are, in a
great measure, destroyed by evil habits.
Health Reformer, October, 1871
91. Irregularity in eating and
drinking, and improper dressing, deprave the mind and corrupt
the heart, and bring the noble attributes of the soul in slavery
to the animal passions.
R. & H., Jan. 25, 1881
92. Let none who profess godliness
regard with indifference the health of the body, and flatter
themselves that intemperance is no sin, and will not affect
their spirituality. A close sympathy exists between the physical
and the moral nature. The standard of virtue is elevated or
degraded by the physical habits. Excessive eating of the best of
food will produce a morbid condition of the moral feelings. And
if the food is not the most healthful, the effects will be still
more injurious. Any habit which does not promote healthful
action in the human system, degrades the higher and nobler
faculties. Wrong habits of eating and drinking lead to errors in
thought and action. Indulgence of appetite strengthens the
animal propensities, giving them the ascendancy over the mental
and spiritual powers.
"Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul," is the
language of the apostle Peter. Many regard this warning as
applicable only to the licentious; but it has a broader meaning.
It guards against every injurious gratification of appetite or
passion. It is a most forcible warning against the use of such
stimulants and narcotics as tea, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, and
morphine. These indulgences may well be classed among the lusts
that exert a pernicious influence upon moral character. The
earlier these hurtful habits are formed, the more firmly will
they hold their victim in slavery to lust, and the more
certainly will they lower the standard of spirituality.
(1870) 2T 413, 414
93. You need to exercise temperance
in all things. Cultivate the higher powers of the mind, and
there will be less strength of growth of the animal. It is
impossible for you to increase in spiritual strength while your
appetite and passions are not under perfect control. Says the
inspired apostle, "I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection; lest that by any means, when I have preached to
others, I myself should be a castaway." {CD 63.1}
My brother, arouse yourself, I pray you, and let the work of the
Spirit of God reach deeper than the external; let it reach down
to the deep springs of every action. It is principle that is
wanted, firm principle, and vigor of action in spiritual as well
as temporal things. Your efforts lack earnestness. Oh, how many
are low in the scale of spirituality, because they will not deny
their appetite! The brain nerve energy is benumbed and almost
paralyzed by overeating. When such go to the house of God upon
the Sabbath, they cannot hold their eyes open. The most earnest
appeals fail to arouse their leaden, insensible intellects. The
truth may be presented with deep feeling; but it does not awaken
the moral sensibilities, or enlighten the understanding. Have
such studied to glorify God in all things?
Influence of a Simple Diet
(1869) 2T 352
94. If all who profess to obey the
law of God were free from iniquity, my soul would be relieved;
but they are not. Even some who profess to keep all the
commandments of God are guilty of the sin of adultery. What can
I say to arouse their benumbed sensibilities? Moral principle,
strictly carried out, becomes the only safeguard of the soul. If
ever there was a time when the diet should be of the most simple
kind, it is now. Meat should not be placed before our children.
Its influence is to excite and strengthen the lower passions,
and has a tendency to deaden the moral powers. Grains and fruits
prepared free from grease, and in as natural a condition as
possible, should be the food for the tables of all who claim to
be preparing for translation to heaven. The less feverish the
diet, the more easily can the passions be controlled.
Gratification of taste should not be consulted irrespective of
physical, intellectual, or moral health.
Indulgence of the baser passions will lead very many to shut
their eyes to the light; for they fear that they will see sins
which they are unwilling to forsake. All may see if they will.
If they choose darkness rather than light, their criminality
will be none the less. Why do not men and women read, and become
intelligent upon these things, which so decidedly affect their
physical, intellectual, and moral strength? God has given you a
habitation to care for, and preserve in the best condition for
His service and glory. {CD 64.1}
Temperance an Aid to Moral Control
(1870) 2T 404, 405
95. Your food is not of that simple,
healthful quality which will make the best kind of blood. Foul
blood will surely becloud the moral and intellectual powers, and
arouse and strengthen the baser passions of your nature. Neither
of you can afford a feverish diet; for it is at the expense of
the health of the body, and the prosperity of your own souls and
the souls of your children. {CD 64.2}
You place upon your table food which taxes the digestive organs,
excites the animal passions, and weakens the moral and
intellectual faculties. Rich food and flesh meats are no benefit
to you. . . . {CD 64.3}
I entreat you, for Christ's sake, to set your house and hearts
in order. Let the truth of heavenly origin elevate and sanctify
you, soul, body, and spirit. 'Abstain from fleshly lusts, which
war against the soul." Brother G, your eating has a tendency to
strengthen the baser passions. You do not control your body as
it is your duty to do in order to perfect holiness in the fear
of God. Temperance in eating must be practiced before you can be
a patient man.
(1876) 4T 35, 36
96. The world should be no criterion
for us. It is fashionable to indulge the appetite in luxurious
food and unnatural stimulus, thus strengthening the animal
propensities, and crippling the growth and development of the
moral faculties. There is no encouragement given to any of the
sons or daughters of Adam that they may become victorious
overcomers in the Christian warfare unless they decide to
practice temperance in all things. If they do this, they will
not fight as one that beateth the air.
If Christians will keep the body in subjection, and bring all
their appetites and passions under the control of enlightened
conscience, feeling it a duty that they owe to God and to their
neighbors to obey the laws which govern health and life, they
will have the blessing of physical and mental vigor. They will
have moral power to engage in the warfare against Satan; and in
the name of Him who conquered appetite in their behalf, they may
be more than conquerors on their own account. This warfare is
open to all who will engage in it.