Chapter 8—Control of Appetite
Failure in Self-control the First Sin
229. Adam and Eve in Eden were noble in stature, and perfect in
symmetry and beauty. They were sinless, and in perfect health. What
a contrast to the human race now! Beauty is gone. Perfect health is not
known. Everywhere we look we see disease, deformity, and imbecility.
I inquired the cause of this wonderful degeneracy, and was pointed
back to Eden. The beautiful Eve was beguiled by the serpent to eat of
the fruit of the only tree of which God had forbidden them to eat, or
even touch it, lest they die.
Eve had everything to make her happy. She was surrounded by
fruit of every variety. Yet the fruit of the forbidden tree appeared more
desirable to her than the fruit of all the other trees in the garden of
which she could freely eat. She was intemperate in her desires. She
ate, and through her influence, her husband ate also, and a curse rested
upon them both. The earth also was cursed because of their sin. And
since the fall, intemperance in almost every form has existed. The
appetite has controlled reason. The human family have followed in a
course of disobedience, and, like Eve, have been beguiled by Satan to
disregard the prohibitions God has made, flattering themselves that the
consequences would not be as fearful as had been apprehended. The
human family have violated the laws of health, and have run to excess
in almost everything. Disease has been steadily increasing. The cause
has been followed by the effect.—
Spiritual Gifts 4a:120, 1864
Noah’s Day and Ours
230. Jesus, seated on the Mount of Olives, gave instruction to His
disciples concerning the signs which should precede His coming: “As
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the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah
entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came and took them
all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” The same
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