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The Battle Against Intemperance, November 4
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1
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We as Christians should stand firmly in defense of temperance. There
is no class of persons capable of accomplishing more and effecting the
object more readily than the God-fearing Bible youth. In this age the
young men of our cities should unite in a firm, decided army to set their
faces as a flint against every form of selfish, health-destroying indulgence.
What a power they might be for good! How many they might save from
becoming demoralized because they visit the halls and gardens fitted up
with music and every attraction to allure the youth! Intemperance and
licentiousness and profanity are sisters. Let every God-fearing youth gird
on the armor and press to the front. Put your names on every pledge....
Let no feeble, weak excuse be offered to refuse to put your name to the
temperance pledge....
Through intemperate appetite Adam and Eve lost Eden. If we gain the
Paradise of God we must be temperate in all things. Shall any blush with
shame to refuse the wine cup or the foaming mug of beer? Instead of this
being a dishonorable work, they are doing service to God in the matter of
refusing to indulge appetite, resisting temptation. Angels are looking upon
both tempter and tempted. While sin is unmanly, indulgence of appetite
is weak, cowardly, and debasing; the denial of appetite, honorable. The
highest intelligences of heaven watch the conflict going on between the
tempter and the tempted. And if the tempted turn away from temptation
and in the strength of Jesus conquer, then angels rejoice, and Satan has lost
in the conflict.... All who understand the great conflict of Christ upon the
point of appetite in the wilderness of temptation will never lend one iota of
their influence to brace up intemperance.
Jesus endured the painful fast in our behalf and conquered Satan in
every temptation, thus making it possible for man to conquer in his own
behalf, and on his own account, through the strength brought to him by
this mighty victory gained as man’s substitute and surety
[315]
5
The Review and Herald, April 19, 1887
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