Overeating and Control of Appetite
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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.
[163]
But even health reformers can err in the quantity of food. They
can eat immoderately of a healthy quality of food.
Testimonies for the Church 3:489-492
Ministers, teachers, and students do not become as intelligent as
they should in regard to the necessity of physical exercise in the open
air. They neglect this duty, which is most essential for the preserva-
tion of health. They closely apply their minds to books, and eat the
allowance of a laboring man. Under such habits, some grow corpulent,
because the system is clogged. Others become lean, feeble, and weak,
because their vital powers are exhausted in throwing off the excess
of food; the liver becomes burdened and unable to throw off the im-
purities in the blood, and sickness is the result. If physical exercise
were combined with mental exertion, the blood would be quickened in
its circulation, the action of the heart would be more perfect, impure
matter would be thrown off, and new life and vigor would be expe-
rienced in every part of the body.... Ministers of Christ, professing
to be His representatives, should follow His example, and above all
others should form habits of strictest temperance. They should keep
the life and example of Christ before the people by their own lives of
self-denial, self-sacrifice, and active benevolence. Christ overcame
appetite in man’s behalf; and in His stead they are to set others an
example worthy of imitation. Those who do not feel the necessity of
engaging in the work of overcoming upon the point of appetite, will
fail to secure precious victories which they might have gained, and
will become slaves to appetite and lust, which are filling the cup of
iniquity of those who dwell upon the earth.
Men who are engaged in giving the last message of warning to
the world, a message which is to decide the destiny of souls, should
make a practical application in their own lives of the truths they preach
to others. They should be examples to the people in their eating,
in their drinking, and in their chaste conversation and deportment.
Gluttony, indulgence of the baser passions, and grievous sins, are
hidden under the garb of sanctity by many professed representatives