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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
separate God’s commandment-keeping people from the world. The
dress reform answers to us as did the ribbon of blue to ancient Israel.
The proud, and those who have no love for sacred truth, which will
separate them from the world, will show it by their works. God in
His providence has given us the light upon health reform, that we
may understand it in all its bearings, follow the light it brings, and by
rightly relating ourselves to life have health that we may glorify God
and be a blessing to others.
The church in general at Battle Creek have not sustained the Insti-
tute by their example. They have not honored the light of health reform
by carrying it out in their families. The sickness that has visited many
families in Battle Creek need not have been if they had followed the
light God has given them. Like ancient Israel they have disregarded
the light and could see no more necessity of restricting their appetite
than did ancient Israel. The children of Israel would have flesh meats
and said, as many now say: We shall die without meat. God gave
rebellious Israel flesh, but His curse was with it. Thousands of them
died while the meat they desired was between their teeth. We have the
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example of ancient Israel and the warning for us not to do as they did.
Their history of unbelief and rebellion is left on record as a special
warning that we should not follow their example of murmuring at
God’s requirements. How can we pass on so indifferently, choosing
our own course, following the sight of our own eyes, and departing
further and further from God, as did the Hebrews? God cannot do
great things for His people because of their hardness of heart and sinful
unbelief.
God is no respecter of persons; but in every generation they that
fear the Lord and work righteousness are accepted of Him; while those
who are murmuring, unbelieving, and rebellious will not have His
favor nor the blessings promised to those who love the truth and walk
in it. Those who have the light and do not follow it, but disregard the
requirements of God, will find that their blessings will be changed
into curses and their mercies into judgments. God would have us
learn humility and obedience as we read the history of ancient Israel,
who were His chosen and peculiar people, but who brought their own
destruction by following their own ways.
The religion of the Bible is not detrimental to the health of the
body or of the mind. The influence of the Spirit of God is the very best