Reasons for Reform
439
by their advantages, they would have been the world’s object-lesson of
health and prosperity. If as a people they had lived according to God’s
plan they would have been preserved from the diseases that afflicted
other nations. Above any other people they would have possessed
physical strength, and vigor of intellect.
The Ministry of Healing, 312
By departing from the plan divinely appointed for their diet, the
Israelites suffered great loss. They desired a flesh diet, and they reaped
its results. They did not reach God’s ideal of character or fulfill His
purpose. The Lord “gave them their request, but sent leanness into
their soul.” They valued the earthly above the spiritual, and the sacred
preeminence which was His purpose for them they did not attain.
The Ministry of Healing, 310
Our bodies are Christ’s purchased possession, and we are not at
liberty to do with them as we please. All who understand the laws of
health should realize their obligation to obey these laws, which God
has established in their being. Obedience to the laws of health is to be
made a matter of personal duty. We ourselves must suffer the results of
violated law. We must individually answer to God for our habits and
practices. Therefore, the question with us is not “What is the world’s
practice?” but, “How shall I as an individual treat the habitation that
God has given me?”
The Ministry of Healing, 130
The requirements of God must be brought home to the conscience.
Men and women must be awakened to the duty of self-mastery, the
need of purity, freedom from every depraving appetite and defiling
habit. They need to be impressed with the fact that all their powers of
mind and body are the gift of God, and are to be preserved in the best
possible condition for His service.
Testimonies for The Church 1:485-489
In the vision given me in Rochester, N. Y., December 25, 1865,
I was shown that our Sabbath-keeping people have been negligent