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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
a mistake. Heaven is all joy.—
The Signs of the Times, February 12,
1885
.
[759]
Cheerfulness Brightens the Pathway—It is the duty of everyone
to cultivate cheerfulness instead of brooding over sorrow and troubles.
Many not only make themselves wretched in this way, but they sacrifice
health and happiness to a morbid imagination. There are things in
their surroundings that are not agreeable, and their countenances wear
a continual frown that more plainly than words expresses discontent.
These depressing emotions are a great injury to them healthwise,
for by hindering the process of digestion they interfere with nutrition.
While grief and anxiety cannot remedy a single evil, they can do great
harm; but cheerfulness and hope, while they brighten the pathway
of others, “are life unto those that find them, and health to all their
flesh.”—
The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1885
. (
My Life Today,
153
.)
Mealtime and Emotions—Learn for yourselves what you should
eat, what kinds of food best nourish the body, and then follow dictates
of reason and conscience. At mealtime cast off care and taxing thought.
Do not be hurried, but eat slowly and with cheerfulness, your heart
filled with gratitude to God for all His blessings. And do not engage
in brain labor immediately after a meal. Exercise moderately, and give
a little time for the stomach to begin its work.—
Gospel Workers, 241,
242
(1892). (
Counsels on Health, 565
.)
Cherishing Error Hinders Mental Expansion—The mind in
which error has once taken possession can never expand freely to
truth, even after investigation. The old theories will claim recognition.
The understanding of things that are true and elevated and sanctifying
will be confused. Superstitious ideas will enter the mind to mingle
with the true, and these ideas are always debasing in their influence.
Christian knowledge bears its own stamp of unmeasured superior-
ity in all that concerns the preparation for the future, immortal life. It
distinguishes the Bible reader and believer, who has been receiving the
precious treasures of truth, from the skeptic and the believer in pagan
[760]
philosophy.
Cleave to the word, “It is written.” Cast out of the mind the dan-
gerous, obtrusive theories which, if entertained, will hold the mind in
bondage so that the man shall not become a new creature in Christ.
The mind must be constantly restrained and guarded. It must be given