Chapter 73—Sacredness of Health
Satan comes to man with his temptations as an angel of light, as
he came to Christ. He has been working to bring man into a condition
of physical and moral weakness, that he may overcome him with
his temptations, and then triumph over his ruin. And he has been
successful in tempting man to indulge appetite, regardless of the result.
He well knows that it is impossible for man to discharge his obligations
to God and to his fellow-men, while he impairs the faculties God has
given him. The brain is the capital of the body. If the perceptive
faculties become benumbed through intemperance of any kind, eternal
things are not discerned.
Relation of Health to Character Building
God gives no permission to man to violate the laws of his being.
But man, through yielding to Satan’s temptations to indulge intemper-
ance, brings the higher faculties into subjection to the animal appetites
and passions. When these gain the ascendency, man, who was created
a little lower than the angels, with faculties susceptible of the highest
cultivation, surrenders to be controlled by 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
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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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