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Chapter 3—Defiling the Temple of God
Inconvenient, Expensive, Uncleanly
—The use of tobacco is an
inconvenient, expensive, uncleanly habit. The teachings of Christ,
pointing to purity, self-denial, and temperance, all rebuke this de-
filing practice.... Is it for the glory of God for men to enfeeble the
physical powers, confuse the brain, and yield the will to this narcotic
poison?—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 17, 18
.
Looking Through Clouded Windows
—The youth who has
made a practice of using tobacco has defiled the whole man. The will
has no longer the promptness and force which made him trustworthy
and of value before he accepted the enemy’s poison.... His mind
need not have decayed. He need not have lost the inspiration that
comes from God. But when the human agent works in perfect
harmony with the destroyer, enervating the sinews and muscles, the
fluids and solids, of the whole human structure, he is dulling the
machinery through which the intellect works. He is clouding the
windows through which he looks. He sees everything in a perverted
light.—
Manuscript 17, 1898
.
Incense to His Satanic Majesty
—As I have seen men who
claimed to enjoy the blessing of entire sanctification, while they
were slaves to tobacco, spitting and defiling everything around them,
I have thought, How would heaven appear with tobacco users in it?
The lips that were taking the precious name of Christ were defiled by
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tobacco spittle, the breath was polluted with the stench, and even the
linen was defiled; the soul that loved this uncleanness and enjoyed
this poisonous atmosphere must also be defiled. The sign was hung
upon the outside, testifying of what was within.
Men professing godliness offer their bodies upon Satan’s altar,
and burn the incense of tobacco to his satanic majesty. Does this
statement seem severe? The offering must be presented to some
deity. As God is pure and holy, and will accept nothing defiling in
its character, He refuses this expensive, filthy, and unholy sacrifice;
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