32
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene
that the habits of both the mother and the child were to be so carefully
regulated. “Neither let her drink wine nor strong drink,” was the angel’s
instruction for the wife of Manoah, “nor eat any unclean thing; all that
I commanded her let her observe.” The child will be affected for good
or evil by the habits of the mother. She must herself be controlled by
principle, and must practice temperance and self-denial, if she would
seek the welfare of her child.
In the New Testament we find a no less impressive example of the
importance of temperate habits.
John the Baptist was a reformer. To him was committed a great
work for the people of his time. And in preparation for that work, all
his habits were carefully regulated, even from his birth. The angel
Gabriel was sent from heaven to instruct the parents of John in the
principles of health reform. He “shall drink neither wine nor strong
drink,” said the heavenly messenger; “and he shall be filled with the
Holy Ghost.” [
Luke 1:15
.]
John separated himself from his friends, and from the luxuries of
life, dwelling alone in the wilderness, and subsisting upon a purely
vegetable diet. The simplicity of his dress—a garment woven of
camel’s hair—was a rebuke to the extravagance and display of the
people of his generation, especially of the Jewish priests. His diet also,
of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the gluttony that everywhere
prevailed.
[39]
The work of John was foretold by the prophet Malachi: “Behold,
I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to
the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” [
Malachi
4:5, 6
.] John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to prepare the way of the Lord, and to turn the people to the wisdom
of the just. He was a representative of those living in the last days, to
whom God has intrusted sacred truths to present before the people,
to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ. And the same
principles of temperance which John practiced should be observed by
those who in our day are to warn the world of the coming of the Son
of man.
God has made man in his own image, and he expects man to
preserve unimpaired the powers that have been imparted to him for
the Creator’s service. Then should we not heed his admonitions, and