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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
of God’s word are not appreciated. The lower propensities have ruled
men and women.
In order to be fitted for translation, the people of God must know
themselves. They must understand in regard to their own physical
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frames that they may be able with the psalmist to exclaim: “I will
praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” They should
ever have the appetite in subjection to the moral and intellectual organs.
The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.
I was shown that there is a much greater work before us than
we as yet have any idea of, if we would ensure health by placing
ourselves in the right relation to life. Dr. A has been doing a great
and good work in the treatment of disease and in enlightening those
who have all their lives been in ignorance in regard to the relation that
eating, drinking, and working sustain to health. God in His mercy has
given His people light through His humble instrument that in order
to overcome disease they must deny a depraved appetite and practice
temperance in all things. He has caused great light to shine upon
their pathway. Shall those who are “looking for that blessed hope,
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all
iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
works,” be behind the religionists of the day who have no faith in
the soon appearing of our Saviour? The peculiar people whom He
is purifying unto Himself to be translated to heaven without seeing
death, should not be behind others in good works. In their efforts to
cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God, they should be as far ahead of any other
class of people on the earth as their profession is more exalted than
that of others.
Some have sneered at this work of reform and have said it was all
unnecessary, that it was an excitement to divert minds from present
truth. They have said that matters were being carried to extremes.
Such do not know what they are talking about. While men and women
professing godliness are diseased from the crown of their head to the
soles of their feet, while their physical, mental, and moral energies
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are enfeebled through gratification of depraved appetite and excessive
labor, how can they weigh the evidences of truth and comprehend
the requirements of God? If their moral and intellectual faculties