How to Present the Principles of Health Reform
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There is something better to talk about than the faults and weak-
nesses of others. Talk of God and His wonderful works. Study into
the manifestations of His love and wisdom in all the works of nature.
Study that marvelous organism, the human system, and the laws
by which it is governed. Those who perceive the evidences of God’s
love, who understand something of the wisdom and beneficence of
His laws, and the blessings that result from obedience, will come to
regard their duties and obligations from an altogether different point
of view. Instead of looking upon an observance of the laws of health
as a matter of sacrifice or self-denial, they will regard it, as it really is,
as an inestimable blessing.
[104]
Testimonies for the Church 3:19-21
The Reformer was about dead. Brother B. had urged the extreme
positions of Dr. Trall. This had influenced the doctor to come out in the
Reformer stronger than he otherwise would have done, in discarding
milk, sugar, and salt. The position to entirely discontinue the use of
these things may be right in its order; but the time had not come to
take a general stand upon these points. And those who do take their
position, and advocate the entire disuse of milk, butter, and sugar,
should have their own tables free from these things. Brother B., even
while taking his stand in the Reformer with Dr. Trall, in regard to the
injurious effects of salt, milk and sugar, did not practice the things he
taught. Upon his own table, these things were used daily.
Many of our people had lost their interest in the Reformer, and
letters were daily received with this discouraging request, “Please
discontinue my Reformer.” Letters were received from the West, where
the country is new and fruit scarce, inquiring, “How do the friends
of health reform live at Battle Creek? Do they dispense with salt
entirely? If so, we can not at present adopt the health reform. We can
get but little fruit, and we have left off the use of meat, tea, coffee, and
tobacco; but we must have something to sustain life.”
We had spent some time in the West, and knew the scarcity of
fruit, and we sympathized with our brethren who were conscientiously
seeking to be in harmony with the body of Sabbath-keeping Adventists.
They were becoming discouraged, and some were backsliding upon
the health reform, fearing that at Battle Creek they were radical and