Diet and Spirituality
37
more pure and unalloyed the happiness.—
Testimonies for the Church
4:417, 1880
[
God Marks the Sin of Indulgence—246
]
When Sanctification Is Impossible
52. A large proportion of all the infirmities that afflict the human
family, are the results of their own wrong habits, because of their
willing ignorance, or of their disregard of the light which God has
given in relation to the laws of their being. It is not possible for us
to glorify God while living in violation of the laws of life. The heart
cannot possibly maintain consecration to God while lustful appetite is
indulged. A diseased body and disordered intellect, because of con-
tinual indulgence in hurtful lust, make sanctification of the body and
spirit impossible. The apostle understood the importance of the health-
ful conditions of the body for the successful perfection of Christian
character. He says, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should
be a castaway.” He mentions the fruit of the Spirit, among which is
temperance. “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the
affections and lusts.”—
The Health Reformer, March, 1878
[
Impossibility of Attaining Christian Perfection While Giving
Reins to Appetite—356
]
Willing Ignorance Increases Sin
53. It is a duty to know how to preserve the body in the very best
condition of health, and it is a sacred duty to live up to the light which
God has graciously given. If we close our eyes to the light for fear
we shall see our wrongs, which we are unwilling to forsake, our sins
are not lessened, but increased. If light is turned from in one case,
[45]
it will be disregarded in another. It is just as much sin to violate the
laws of our being as to break one of the ten commandments, for we
cannot do either without breaking God’s law. We cannot love the Lord
with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength while we are loving our
appetites, our tastes, a great deal better than we love the Lord. We are
daily lessening our strength to glorify God, when He requires all our
strength, all our mind. By our wrong habits we are lessening our hold