Christian Temperance
God gives man no permission to violate the laws of his being. But
man, through yielding to Satan’s temptations to indulge intemperance,
brings the higher faculties in subjection to the animal appetites and
passions, and when these gain the ascendancy, man, who was created
a little lower than the angels—with faculties susceptible of the highest
cultivation—surrenders to the control of Satan. And he gains easy
access to those who are in bondage to appetite. Through intemperance,
some sacrifice one half, and others two thirds, of their physical, mental,
and moral powers, and become playthings for the enemy.
Those who would have clear minds to discern Satan’s devices
must have their physical appetites under the control of reason and
conscience. The moral and vigorous action of the higher powers of
the mind are essential to the perfection of Christian character, and the
strength or the weakness of the mind has very much to do with our
usefulness in this world and with our final salvation. The ignorance
that has prevailed in regard to God’s law in our physical nature is
deplorable. Intemperance of any kind is a violation of the laws of
our being. Imbecility is prevailing to a fearful extent. Sin is made
attractive by the covering of light which Satan throws over it, and he is
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well pleased when he can hold the Christian world in their daily habits
under the tyranny of custom, like the heathen, and allow appetite to
govern them.
If men and women of intelligence have their moral powers be-
numbed through intemperance of any kind, they are in many of their
habits elevated but little above the heathen. Satan is constantly draw-
ing the people from saving light, to custom and fashion, irrespective
of physical, mental, and moral health. The great enemy knows that if
appetite and passion predominate, the health of body and strength of
intellect are sacrificed upon the altar of self-gratification, and man is
brought to speedy ruin. If enlightened intellect holds the reins, con-
trolling the animal propensities and keeping them in subjection to the
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