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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
have things more comfortable around her. She has been stinted and
dealt closely with by you. She needs a more generous diet, a more
plentiful supply of food upon her table; and in her house she needs
things as comfortable and convenient as you can make them, things
to make her work as easy as possible. But you have viewed matters
from a wrong standpoint. You have thought that almost anything
which could be eaten was good enough, if you could live upon it and
retain strength. You have pleaded the necessity of spare diet to your
feeble wife. But she cannot make good blood or flesh upon the diet
to which you could confine yourself, and flourish. Some persons
cannot subsist upon the same food upon which others can do well,
even though it be prepared in the same manner.
You are in danger of becoming an extremist. Your system could
convert a very coarse, poor diet into good blood. Your blood-making
organs are in good condition. But your wife requires a more select
diet. Let her eat the same food which your system could convert
into good blood, and her system could not appropriate it. She lacks
vitality, and needs a generous, strengthening diet. She should have a
good supply of fruit, and not be confined to the same things from
day to day. She has a slender hold of life. She is diseased, and the
wants of her system are far different from those of a healthy person.
Brother L, you possess considerable dignity, but have you earned
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that dignity? Oh, no! You have assumed it. You have loved your
ease. You and hard work have not agreed. Had you not been slothful
in business, you could have had many of the comforts of life which
you cannot now command. You have wronged your wife and your
children by your indolent habits. Hours which should have been
occupied in earnest labor have been passed away by you in talking
and reading, and taking your ease.
You are just as accountable for your capital of strength as the
wealthy man is for his riches. Both of you are stewards. To each is
committed a work. You are not to abuse your strength, but to use
it to acquire that with which you may liberally supply the wants
of your family, and have wherewith to render to God by aiding in
the cause of present truth. You have been aware of the existence of
pride, and show, and vanity in-----, and have felt determined that
your example should not countenance this pride and extravagance.
In your effort to do this, your sin has been as great on the other side.