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Temperance
Earnest Continual Efforts
—Intemperance still continues its
ravages. Iniquity in every form stands like a mighty barrier to
prevent the progress of truth and righteousness. Social wrongs, born
of ignorance and vice, are still causing untold misery, and casting
their baleful shadow upon both the church and the world. Depravity
among the youth is increasing instead of decreasing. Nothing but
earnest, continual effort will avail to remove this desolating curse.
The conflict with interest and appetite, with evil habits and unholy
passions, will be fierce and deadly; only those who shall move from
principle can gain the victory in this warfare.—
The Review and
Herald, November 6, 1883
.
God Works Through His Church
—If men, and women as
well, are to be thus beguiled, will not the Lord work through His
church, impressing His people to do their duty to these deceived
victims? By many, liquor has been regarded as the only solace in
trouble. This need not be if God’s people seized the opportunities
offered them. If their eyes were not blinded by selfishness, they
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would see the work waiting to be done. They would be sent by
God to do the work He would have had them do in the beginning of
their experience, when their souls were filled with joy and gladness
because their sins had been pardoned.—
Manuscript 87, 1898
.
A Weapon More Effective Than the Ax
—God wants us to
stand where we can warn the people. He desires us to take up the
temperance question. By wrong habits of eating and drinking, men
are destroying what power they have for thought and intelligence.
We do not need to take an ax and break into their saloons. We have
a stronger weapon than this,—the word of the living God. That
will cleave its way through the hellish shadow which Satan seeks
to cast athwart their pathway. God is mighty and powerful. He will
speak to their hearts. We have seen Him doing this.—
The General
Conference Bulletin, April 23, 1901
.
Youth to Join in Staying the Evil
—There is no class of persons
capable of accomplishing more in the warfare against intemperance
than are God-fearing youth. In this age the young men in our cities
should unite as an army, firmly and decidedly to set themselves
against every form of selfish, health-destroying indulgence. What
a power they might be for good! How many they might save from