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Chapter 3—Temperance and Spirituality
The Surrender to Satan
—Man, through yielding to Satan’s
temptations to indulge intemperance, brings the higher faculties in
subjection to the animal appetites and passions, and when these gain
the ascendancy, man, who was created a little lower than the angels,
with faculties susceptible of the highest cultivation, surrenders to
the control of Satan. And he gains easy access to those who are in
bondage to appetite. Through intemperance, some sacrifice one half,
and others two thirds, of their physical, mental, and moral powers,
and become playthings for the enemy.
Those who would have clear minds to discern Satan’s devices,
must have their physical appetites under the control of reason and
conscience. The moral and vigorous action of the higher powers of
the mind are essential to the perfection of Christian character, and
the strength or the weakness of the mind has very much to do with
our usefulness in this world, and with our final salvation.
The ignorance that has prevailed in regard to God’s law in our
physical nature, is deplorable. Intemperance of any kind is a viola-
tion of the laws of our being. Imbecility is prevailing to a fearful
extent. Sin is made attractive by the covering of light which Satan
throws over it, and he is well pleased when he can hold the Christian
world in their daily habits under the tyranny of custom, like the
heathen, and allow appetite to govern them.
Strength of Body and Intellect Sacrificed
—If men and women
of intelligence have their moral powers benumbed through intem-
perance of any kind, they are, in many of their habits, elevated but
little above the heathen. Satan is constantly drawing the people
from saving light, to custom and fashion, irrespective of physical,
mental, and moral health. The great enemy knows that if appetite
and passion predominate, the health of body and strength of intel-
lect are sacrificed upon the altar of self-gratification, and man is
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brought to speedy ruin. If enlightened intellect holds the reins, con-
trolling the animal propensities and keeping them in subjection to
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