Diet in Childhood
189
ulating, irritating food?—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene,
134, 1890
363. But even health reformers can err in the quantity of food.
They can eat immoderately of a healthful quality of food. Some in
this house err in the quality. They have never taken their position upon
health reform. They have chosen to eat and drink what they pleased
and when they pleased. They are injuring their systems in this way.
Not only this, but they are injuring their families by placing upon their
tables a feverish diet, which will increase the animal passions of their
children, and lead them to care but little for heavenly things. The
parents are thus strengthening the animal, and lessening the spiritual
powers of their children. What a heavy penalty will they have to pay
in the end! And then they wonder that their children are so weak
morally!—
Testimonies for the Church 2:365, 1870
Corruption Among Children
364. We live in a corrupt age. It is a time when Satan seems to
have almost perfect control over minds that are not fully consecrated
to God. Therefore there is a very great responsibility resting upon
parents and guardians who have children to bring up. Parents have
taken the responsibility of bringing these children into existence; and
now what is their duty? Is it to let them come up just as they may, and
just as they will? Let me tell you, a weighty responsibility rests upon
these parents....
I have said that some of you are selfish. You have not understood
what I have meant. You have studied what food would taste best. Taste
and pleasure, instead of the glory of God, and a desire to advance in
[245]
the divine life, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God, have ruled.
You have consulted your own pleasure, your own appetite; and while
you have been doing this, Satan has been gaining a march upon you,
and as is generally the case, has frustrated your efforts every time.
Some of you fathers have taken your children to the physician
to see what was the matter with them. I could have told you in two
minutes what was the trouble. Your children are corrupt. Satan has
obtained control of them. He has come right in past you, while you,
who are as God to them, to guard them, were at ease, stupefied, and
asleep. God has commanded you to bring them up in the fear and