Cutting and Slashing
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people. It is important that instructions should be given by ministers
in regard to living temperately. They should show the relation which
eating, working, resting, and dressing sustain to health. All who
believe the truth for these last days have something to do in this
matter. It concerns them, and God requires them to arouse and interest
themselves in this reform. He will not be pleased with their course if
they regard this question with indifference.
The abuses of the stomach by the gratification of appetite are
the fruitful source of most church trials. Those who eat and work
intemperately and irrationally, talk and act irrationally. An intemperate
man cannot be a patient man. It is not necessary to drink alcoholic
liquors in order to be intemperate. The sin of intemperate eating, eating
too frequently, too much, and of rich, unwholesome food, destroys the
healthy action of the digestive organs, affects the brain, and perverts
the judgment, preventing rational, calm, healthy thinking and acting.
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And this is a fruitful source of church trials. Therefore in order for the
people of God to be in an acceptable state with Him, where they can
glorify Him in their bodies and spirits which are His, they must with
interest and zeal deny the gratification of their appetites, and exercise
temperance in all things. Then may they comprehend the truth in its
beauty and clearness, and carry it out in their lives, and by a judicious,
wise, straightforward course give the enemies of our faith no occasion
to reproach the cause of truth. God requires all who believe the truth
to make special, persevering efforts to place themselves in the best
possible condition of bodily health, for a solemn and important work
is before us. Health of body and mind is required for this work; it is
as essential to a healthy religious experience, to advancement in the
Christian life and progress in holiness, as is the hand or foot to the
human body. God requires His people to cleanse themselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
the Lord. All those who are indifferent and excuse themselves from
this work, waiting for the Lord to do for them that which He requires
them to do for themselves, will be found wanting when the meek of
the earth, who have wrought His judgments, are hid in the day of the
Lord’s anger.
I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but
wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs
and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from