336
Counsels on Diet and Foods
depravity of the world. By the indulgence of the perverted appetite,
man loses his power to resist temptation.
Temperance reformers have a work to do in educating the people
in these lines. Teach them that health, character, and even life, are en-
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dangered by the use of stimulants, which excite the exhausted energies
to unnatural, spasmodic action.—
The Ministry of Healing, 334, 1905
Persevere, and Nature Will Rally
In relation to tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcoholic drinks, the only
safe course is to touch not, taste not, handle not. The tendency of tea,
coffee, and similar drinks is in the same direction as that of alcoholic
liquor and tobacco, and in some cases the habit is as difficult to break
as it is for the drunkard to give up intoxicants. Those who attempt to
leave off these stimulants will for a time feel a loss, and will suffer
without them. But by persistence they will overcome the craving, and
cease to feel the lack. Nature may require a little time to recover from
the abuse she has suffered; but give her a chance, and she will again
rally, and perform her work nobly and well.
748. Satan is corrupting minds and destroying souls through his
subtle temptations. Will our people see and feel the sin of indulging
perverted appetite? Will they discard tea, coffee, flesh meats, and all
stimulating food, and devote the means expended for those hurtful
indulgences to spreading the truth?...What power can the tobacco
devotee have to stay the progress of intemperance? There must be
a revolution in our world upon the subject of tobacco before the ax
is laid at the root of the tree. We press the subject still closer. Tea
and coffee are fostering the appetite which is developing for stronger
stimulants, as tobacco and liquor.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:569,
1875
749. Concerning flesh meat we can all say, Let it alone. And all
should bear a clear testimony against tea and coffee, never using them.
They are narcotics, injurious alike to the brain and to the other organs
of the body....
Let the members of our churches deny every selfish appetite. Every
penny expended for tea, coffee, and flesh meat is worse than wasted;
for these things hinder the best development of the physical, mental,
and spiritual powers.—
Letter 135, 1902
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