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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
And what influence does overeating have upon the stomach? It
becomes debilitated, the digestive organs are weakened, and disease,
with all its train of evils, is brought on as the result. If persons
were diseased before, they thus increase the difficulties upon them
and lessen their vitality every day they live. They call their vital
powers into unnecessary action to take care of the food that they
place in their stomachs. What a terrible condition is this to be in!
We know something of dyspepsia by experience. We have had it
in our family, and we feel that it is a disease much to be dreaded.
When a person becomes a thorough dyspeptic, he is a great sufferer,
mentally and physically; and his friends must also suffer, unless they
are as unfeeling as brutes. And yet will you say: “It is none of your
business what I eat or what course I pursue”? Does anybody around
dyspeptics suffer? Just take a course that will irritate them in any
way. How natural to be fretful! They feel bad, and it appears to them
that their children are very bad. They cannot speak calmly to them,
nor, without especial grace, act calmly in their families. All around
them are affected by the disease upon them; all have to suffer the
consequences of their infirmity. They cast a dark shadow. Then, do
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not your habits of eating and drinking affect others? They certainly
do. And you should be very careful to preserve yourself in the best
condition of health that you may render to God perfect service and
do your duty in society and to your family.
But even health reformers can err in the quantity of food. They
can eat immoderately of a healthy quality of food. Some in this
house err in the quality. They have never taken their position upon
health reform. They have chosen to eat and drink what they pleased
and when they pleased. They are injuring their systems in this way.
Not only this, but they are injuring their families by placing upon
their tables a feverish diet which will increase the animal passions
of their children and lead them to care but little for heavenly things.
The parents are thus strengthening the animal, and lessening the
spiritual, powers of their children. What a heavy penalty will they
have to pay in the end! And then they wonder that their children are
so weak morally!
Parents have not given their children the right education. Fre-
quently they manifest the same imperfections which are seen in the
children. They eat improperly, and this calls their nervous energies