60
Counsels on Diet and Foods
for fear they will see sinful indulgences which they are unwilling to
forsake, are guilty before God.
Whoever turns from the light in one instance hardens his heart
to disregard the light upon other matters. Whoever violates moral
obligations in the matter of eating and dressing, prepares the way to
violate the claims of God in regard to eternal interests....
The people whom God is leading will be peculiar. They will not
be like the world. But if they follow the leadings of God, they will
accomplish His purposes, and will yield their will to His will. Christ
will dwell in the heart. The temple of God will be holy. Your body,
says the apostle, is the temple of the Holy Ghost.
God does not require His children to deny themselves to the injury
of physical strength. He requires them to obey natural law, to preserve
physical health. Nature’s path is the road He marks out, and it is broad
enough for any Christian. God has, with a lavish hand, provided us
with rich and varied bounties for our sustenance and enjoyment. But
in order for us to enjoy the natural appetite, which will preserve health
and prolong life, He restricts the appetite. He says, Beware; restrain,
deny, unnatural appetite. If we create a perverted appetite, we violate
the laws of our being, and assume the responsibility of abusing our
bodies and of bringing disease upon ourselves.
Give the Health Work its Place
99. The indifference with which the health books have been treated
by many is an offense to God. To separate the health work from the
great body of the work is not in His order. Present truth lies in the
work of health reform as verily as in other features of gospel work. No
one branch, when separated from others, can be a perfect whole.
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The gospel of health has able advocates, but their work has been
made very hard because so many ministers, presidents of conferences,
and others in positions of influence, have failed to give the question
of health reform its proper attention. They have not recognized it in
its relation to the work of the message as the right arm of the body.
While very little respect has been shown to this department by many
of the people, and by some of the ministers, the Lord has shown His
regard for it by giving it abundant prosperity.