Effects of Stimulants
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tea, coffee, tobacco, wines, opium, and alcoholic drinks, reason would
take the reins of government in her own hands, and hold the appetites
and passions under control.
Through appetite, Satan controls the mind and the whole being.
Thousands who might have lived, have passed into the grave, physical,
mental, and moral wrecks, because they sacrificed all their powers to
the indulgence of appetite. The necessity for the men of this generation
to call to their aid the power of the will, strengthened by the grace
of God, in order to withstand the temptations of Satan, and resist
the least indulgence of perverted appetite, is far greater than it was
several generations ago. But the present generation have less power
of self-control than had those who lived then. Those who indulged
in these stimulants transmitted their depraved appetites and passions
to their children, and greater moral power is now required to resist
intemperance in all its forms. The only perfectly safe course is to stand
firm, observing strict temperance in all things, and never venturing
into the path of danger.
I feel an intense interest that fathers and mothers should realize
the solemn obligations that are resting upon them at this time. We are
bringing up children who will be controlled by the power of Satan or
by that of Christ. The only way in which any can be secure against
the power of intemperance, is to abstain wholly from wine, beer, and
strong drinks. We must teach our children that in order to be manly
they must let these things alone. God has shown us what constitutes
true manliness. It is he that overcometh who will be honored, and
whose name will not be blotted out of the book of life.
When the Lord would raise up Samson as a deliverer of his people,
he enjoined upon the mother correct habits of life before the birth of
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her child. And the same prohibition was to be imposed, from the first,
upon the child; for he was to be consecrated to God as a Nazarite from
his birth.
The angel of God appeared to the wife of Manoah, and informed
her that she should have a son; and in view of this he gave her the
important directions: “Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink
not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing.” [
Judges
13:4, 14
.]
God had important work for the promised child of Manoah to do,
and it was to secure for him the qualifications necessary for this work,