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Chapter 4—A Cause of Accidents
The Drinker Under Satan’s Control
—Men who use liquor
make themselves the slaves of Satan. Satan tempts those who oc-
cupy positions of trust on railways, on steamships, those who have
charge of the boats or cars laden with people flocking to idolatrous
amusement, to indulge perverted appetite, and thus forget God and
His laws. He offers tempting bribes to allure them, that by indulging
wrong habits and appetites, they may place themselves where he can
control their reason, as a workman handles an instrument. Then he
works to destroy the pleasure lovers.
Thus men co-operate with Satan, as his agents, his instruments.
They cannot see what they are about. Signals are made incorrectly,
and cars collide with each other. Then comes horror, mutilation, and
death. This condition of things will become more and more marked.
The daily papers will relate many terrible accidents. Yet the saloons
will be made just as enticing. Liquor will still be sold to the poor
tempted soul who has lost the power to stand up and say, I am a man,
but who says by his actions, I have no self-control. I cannot resist
temptation. All such have severed their connection with God, and
are the dupes of Satan’s deception.—
Manuscript 17, 1898
.
Judgment Impaired Through Liquor
—Liquor drinkers are
under Satan’s destroying influence. He presents to them his false
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ideas, and no confidence can be placed in their judgment.—
The
Review and Herald, May 1, 1900
.
Some official on a railway train neglects to heed a signal, or
misinterprets an order. On goes the train; there is a collision, and
many lives are lost. Or a steamer is run aground, and passengers
and crew find a watery grave. When the matter is investigated, it is
found that someone at an important post was under the influence of
drink.—
The Ministry of Healing, 331
.
God Holds the Drinker Responsible
—Are the men who com-
mand the great ocean steamers, who have the control of railways,
strict temperance men? Are their brains free from the influence of
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