健康改良
1897年1月11日写于新南威尔士州，库兰邦，“森尼赛德”
昨天夜里十一点半，我被叫醒并开始写作。我们是在开会，会上正在给出许多方面的重要指示。与会的人中有医师、编辑、出版者、传道人和其他许多人。我们正在考虑有关健康改良的许多事。正在讨论的是锻炼和有关我们所吃食物的改良方法问题。有些人正在提倡有肉饮食。他们为支持这种饮食，就说自己不吃肉会体力衰弱。{PC 160.1}
但主我们的教师对我们所说的话却是：“他心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样”(箴23:7)。死兽的肉并非最初给人的食物。人类蒙允许吃肉是在洪水之后，因为那时蔬菜全都毁了。但宣布在人类和大地及每一活物身上的咒诅已造成了前所未有的惊人改变。自从大洪水以来，人类的寿命一直在缩短。在这些末后的日子，人类的体力、智力和道德力都在迅速退化。{PC 160.2}
医疗布道方面的教育工作，乃是向着唤醒人的道德责任感前进的一大步。如果传道人按照上帝已赐亮光在不同部门把握住这工作，就本应当在吃、喝、和穿衣上有最坚决的改革。但有些人却直接挡在健康改良前进的道路上。他们用冷淡的或藐视的言论和他们自以为的幽默与笑话阻止了人们。他们自己和其他许多人甚至直到死都是受苦者，但都还没有学到智慧。{PC 160.3}
主必维护祂所赐给祂仆人们的话。要是从最初赐下有关这个问题的亮光的时候，大家就都团结一致地行在光中，原会有大量明智的论据可用来维护上帝的工作。但一直以来却只是藉着极有闯劲的活动才有所进步。人们的心灵和身体一直在迅速变得患病败坏。要是那些自称相信真理的人在自己的生活中活出了真理的神圣原则，情况原不会这样。然而这些人却不愿舍己，不愿使他们的心思和意愿顺服上帝的旨意;他们决心偏行己路，便在自己的苦难中体验了这种行径必有的苦果。{PC 160.4}
上帝对凡参加祂服务的人都有要求。祂渴望人的每一能力和天赋都在上帝的控制下，既健康又审慎，只有严格的节制才能做到。我们对上帝有义务，要把自己的身体和灵魂，毫无保留地奉献给祂，所有的官能都要当作祂托付的恩赐，运用在祂的服务中。我们自己一切的精力和能力都当在这恩典试验期中不断得到加强和改进。{PC 160.5}
但那些身居要职的人却没有重视久己受到忽视的工作。他们没有兴致勃勃地殷勤研究身体——上帝所造为祂居所的这个房屋。他们认为学习对人来说比较不重要的问题远为重要。千千万万的人对身体和如何照顾身体一无所知。大卫说：“我受造奇妙可畏”(诗139:14)。上帝既已赐给我们这样一个居所，我们为何不应仔细检查它的每个房间呢?心思与意念的各个房间是极重要的。我们为何要继续作无知的人，住在地下室里，喜爱色情的下贱的娱乐呢?{PC 161.1}
从肉食改为素食时，要非常注意把精心准备烹饪良好的食物摆在桌子上。吃太多粥是不对的。需要咀嚼的干粮要好得多了。预备健康的食物，乃是这方面的一种福惠。优质的全麦面包和面包卷，简单而认真地预备，是有益于健康的。面包决不要有酸味。要完全烘透，这样就不会柔软黏腻了。{PC 161.2}
对于能够食用的人，用健康的方法烹饪的优质蔬菜，比软绵绵的糊或粥要好。吃水果加烘透隔两三天的陈面包，要比新鲜的面包有益健康，通过慢慢充分的咀嚼，能提供人体所有的需要。 {PC 161.3}
“他心怎样思量，他为人就是怎样”(箴23:7)。如果让胃口掌权，头脑就会受它控制。当胃被教育要丢弃那些只会对它造成伤害的食物时，最简单的食物就会满足它的饥饿。{PC 161.4}
一餐吃太多种类的食物并不好。在一餐之中，水果，面包，加上其他许多并不相配的食物塞进胃里，我们所指望的后果，就只能是机能的紊乱了。{PC 161.5}
主要用牛奶取代水来和白面粉或全面粉制作的面包不是健康的做法。要是把这样制作的面包在暖和的天气多放几天，然后掰开，常会发现像蛛丝一样粘连的长丝。这种面包在暖和的天气中很快就会在胃里引起发酵。做面包不要用牛奶来代替水。这完全是额外的花费，而且并不有益于健康。口味可能受训练以致更喜欢以这种方式制作的面包;然而面包制作得越简单，越能满足饥饿感，胃口也就越自然地喜爱最清淡的饮食。{PC 161.6}
我们要为一大家子的人做饭，我们的母牛每天提供近十升的牛奶都不够我们家用的。有时还得另外买三升才够我们做面包用。这是一件极其奢侈的事，而且完全没有必要。我改变了这种局面，大家都见证说面包比用牛奶和面的时候更好吃了。{PC 161.7}
每一位主妇都应该觉得有责任教育自己以最便宜的方式制作优质甜面包，家人也应拒绝厚重的酸面包上桌，因为那是有害的。有许多贫穷的家庭购买普通面包师作的面包，常常是发酸的，对胃不健康。在各种烹饪中应当考虑的问题是：“如何以最自然最节约的方法来烹调食物?”要小心研究，怎样不浪费桌上剩余的食物。要研究如何利用这些剩饭剩菜。这种技术、节约和机智乃是一种财富。在暖和的季节，烹调的食物要少一点。要多用干粮。许多贫苦的家庭，虽然几乎食不果腹，也往往可以告诉他们为什么会贫穷。有许多零碎的食物被浪费了。{PC 162.1}
肉食是一个严重的问题。难道人类必须以食用死畜的肉为生吗?根据上帝所赐我的亮光，回答是：不必!绝对不必!健康改良机构必须教训人这个问题。自称了解人体器官的医生，不应鼓励病人食用死畜的肉。他们应当指出动物界百病丛生的现象。检验人员证明动物很少是没有病的。大量食肉的习惯招致各种疾病，——癌、瘤、淋巴结核、肺结核和许多类似的病。人若愿意以上帝已丰富供应的食物为生，不吃先经过动物的身体变成动物筋肉再吃其死尸的二手食物，那么他的健康状况就会得到更好的保证了。{PC 162.2}
我们国家的传道人应该在健康改良的问题上变得聪明起来。他们需要熟悉生理学。然后他们才会在控制身体生命的律法及其与身心健康的关系上聪明起来。于是他们就能正确地讲述这个问题。他们在顺从自然律法时，就要向人们提供生命的道，并在改革的工作上升得高而又高。“所以弟兄们，我以上帝的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是上帝所喜悦的;你们如此事奉乃是理所当然的”(罗12:1)。“亲爱的啊，你们是客旅，是寄居的。我劝你们要禁戒肉体的私欲;这私欲是与灵魂争战的。你们在外邦人中，应当品行端正，叫那些毁谤你们是作恶的，因看见你们的好行为，便在鉴察(或作：眷顾)的日子归荣耀给上帝”(彼前2:11,12)。凡自称是教师的人，都应该言传身教地敦促大家禁戒肉体的私欲，这私欲是与灵魂争战的。{PC 162.3}
什么能唤醒那些自称行在光中的人呢?那光正照耀在上帝在这些末后日子的子民身上。人们身上有一种因放纵不正当食欲而来的无意识的肉欲主义的昏昏噩噩，不断地将灵与魂与身子交给道德污秽。在我们的创造主设立的婚姻誓约之下，食欲已被扭曲和放纵。这些贪婪的食欲连同其毁灭人的能力，已从父母传给儿女，并且大大强化，以致那些具有这些食欲之人的名字在天上的案卷中被记录为违犯上帝律法的人。他们的面容上就有所多玛罪恶的印记。继续犯这些罪必定带来可怕的结果。他们会突然被毁灭，而且无法补救。他们会受到判决：“不义的，叫他仍旧不义;污秽的，叫他仍旧污秽;为义的，叫他仍旧为义;圣洁的，叫他仍旧圣洁。看哪，我必快来!赏罚在我，要照各人所行的报应他。我是阿拉法，我是俄梅戛;我是首先的，我是末后的;我是初，我是终。那些洗净自己衣服的有福了!可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、淫乱的、杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言、编造虚谎的”(启22:11-15)。{PC 163.1}
这是最后的判决。要唤醒众人的理智;因为许多如今在教会名册上的人并不是上帝的儿女。在天上的案卷中他们的记录是：“你被称在天平里，显出你的亏欠”(但5:27)。要让我们国家的每一个教会都觉悟多多祈祷地研究圣经的重要性，不要站得远远的，而要“亲近上帝。”应许是：“上帝就必亲近你们”(雅4:8)。于是你们的心灵就可以活着，并且获得一种纯正的经验。于是你们才不会被算为那一等人，经上论到他们，说：“只因不法的事增多，许多人的爱心才渐渐冷淡了”(太24:12)。{PC 163.2}
要让主耶稣进入你们的家，进入你们的心。对于祂托付给我们的每一才干，祂会帮助我们按照那赐予者的旨意加以提高和利用。日日、月月、年年在我们生命中延长，使我们为能做成自己得救的功夫来善用我们的机会和优势，并借着我们无私的生活，增进他人的幸福。如此我们便能建立基督的国度并彰显上帝的荣耀。{PC 163.3}
人的努力、体能和智能，都要发挥到极致，以保守青少年的脚行在我们可以追随耶稣脚踪的道路上。年轻人没有得到他们本应该拥有以便发展他们的才干的所有关注。在传道工作中所作的安排远远落后。议事会已经腐败，董事会则由低效无能的成员主持，他们感觉不到必须有圣灵的能力激励青年，好帮助他们选择来自上头的光照。青少年需要成圣的榜样，在成为国内和国外传道士的重大工作中承认全能者。他们需要在基督的十字架上看到唯一真正的力量，来支持人在失望和挫折中不断地与试探作斗争。总会已有多少人对工人们说“去吧”，但却任由许多人没有草做砖，没有给他们提供任何设施或帮助。{PC 163.4}
包围着那些死在罪恶过犯中之人心灵的邪恶有毒的氛围，正在使他们变得像挪亚世代的居民一样，他们因为选择随从已心的想像，并用他们邪恶的发明羞辱上帝，就败坏了身心，并且憎恨造他们的上帝。上帝传给他们一道信息，就是他们不能活了，而应因他们的邪恶行为被消灭。而今，整个人类家庭都需要极度恐慌。他们已经而且仍在上帝面前败坏自己的行为。他们是如此沉溺于放荡之中，以致无法辨别上帝给予他们的纯粹的感情、人性的属性与毁灭性私欲的区别，这些私欲因放纵和邪恶的发明而使他们与洪水前的人和所多玛的居民一样有罪。{PC 164.1}
基督既取了人性以便抵达人类祸患与不幸的深渊，并将人举起来，就表明了祂对人类的估计。在这项工作中，一切都岌岌可危。撒但自称是堕落人类的合法拥有者;他以何等坚持不懈的努力，力求用他的精明狡猾来打倒基督啊!只有藉着与撒但的权势作最殊死的斗争，基督才能实现祂的目的，在人身上恢复几乎已被彻底毁掉的上帝的形像，并将祂自己的名号印在人的额上。这是一场殊死的战斗;因为撒但已与人类的智能联合作工那么久，以致几乎完全拦截了从上帝的宝座照在人心上的每一线亮光。惟有髑髅地的十字架才能败坏魔鬼的作为。在那个惊人的牺牲中，众人的眼目都蒙召要看“上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”(约1:29)。基督的爱在所有持续仰望祂的人心中点燃了。{PC 164.2}
撒但的耳朵听到了施洗约翰说的话：“看哪，上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”(约1:29)，他决心将他的所有军力和人力与他自己联合起来，完成对人类的毁灭。他会从食欲开始。他可以用他的试探对这一点施压，并用扭曲的食欲败坏人的智力和体力，使人在造他的主面前显得讨厌又污秽。撒但已经实现了他的目的。{PC 164.3}
自然界的万物都彰显上帝的作为。人受造奇妙可畏，人若在自身的自然律中遵守了耶和华的律法，上帝的形像原会在人身上彰显出来。但人却因得罪自己的身体，因放纵自己不自然的食欲和扰乱人体机器的功能;因吸烟喝酒、服用麻醉剂、吃患病动物的肉而混乱和削弱了上帝的神圣安排。人体的自然机能尽力将有毒的药物烟草排出体外，但她却往往被压服。她放弃了驱逐入侵者的斗争，生命就在斗争中牺牲了。无论是医生开的处方，还是人自己对人体的强暴对待，放置在胃中的每一种有害药物都会伤害整个机器。贪婪食欲的每一次过度放纵，都与自然的本能和通过创造主的能力而拥有有机生命的每一神经、肌肉和器官的健康状况争战。{PC 164.4}
人如果愿意在对待自己的身体方面与上帝的旨意合作，自然机能就会聪明地很好的从事她的工作。然而撒但和他的整个联盟却多么快乐地看到，他的欺骗能力和技巧多么容易地说服人们对最讨厌的兴奋剂和麻醉剂形成食欲啊。然后，当自然机能所有工作力量都已经被压服，变得衰弱无力时，又来了医生开的药物，要杀死余剩的生命力，给人留下痛苦、愚蠢、精神错乱和令人讨厌的疾病的痛苦的残骸。撒但地狱般的阴影使人看不到上帝了。{PC 165.1}
在路4:16-19中，基督宣布了祂对世界的使命和工作：“耶稣来到拿撒勒，就是祂长大的地方。在安息日，照祂平常的规矩进了会堂，站起来要念圣经。有人把先知以赛亚的书交给祂，祂就打开，找到一处写着说：主的灵在我身上，因为祂用膏膏我，叫我传福音给贫穷的人;差遣我报告：被掳的得释放，瞎眼的得看见，叫那受压制的得自由，报告上帝悦纳人的禧年。”耶稣亲自成了人的赎金，人的解放者，释放人脱离撒但欺压的权势。祂说：“你们不是自己的人，因为你们是用重价买来的。”我们是从一个权势手中被买来的，我们曾是那个权势的奴隶。而赎买我们的代价就是上帝的独生子。惟有祂的血能赎回有罪的人类。“上帝爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生”(约3:16)。{PC 165.2}
如果每一个人都能像指示我的那样看清这些问题，现今那些粗心大意，对自己品格的建造漠不关心，要求放纵肉食的人，就决不会开口为吃死畜之肉的食欲作辩护了。这种食物污染血管中的血液，刺激低级的兽欲，削弱人敏锐的感觉和思维能力，使人不了解上帝和真理，也不了解自己。{PC 165.3}
基督舍命作了多人的赎价。基督要在撒但残忍的能力之下。撒但希望，一旦他能获得至高无上的地位，他就能战胜基督。他已经获得了对人类家庭的统治权，且已通过违反上帝圣洁的律法，使人处在他的管辖之下。他不公正地声称他们是他自己的国民。但基督从仇敌手中夺取猎物。撒但要被人子打败。{PC 165.4}
基督消除了每一个障碍，以便人类重新效忠上帝。基督因人的缘故，成了受苦的对象。可是人却因自私的放纵，乐于置身于滑地，藉着不自然的食欲抹煞上帝的形像。已蒙赋予体力、智力和道德力的人，已置身懦夫的地位。撒但知道自己如果不控制人的意志，就无法制胜人。他能藉着欺骗做到这一点，好使人愿意与他合作，在吃喝上违犯自然律，这就违背了上帝的律法。{PC 166.1}
这就是关于不节制的话题变得越来越重要的地方。这就是撒但的用武之地，要用扭曲的食欲混乱人心，使人分不清圣的俗的。低劣的东西与神圣的事物被置于一个水平。兽性被加强，高级能力被削弱了。{PC 166.2}
父母身心的状态会遗传给后代。人们没有适时思考这个问题。父母的习惯无论在什么地方违犯了生理之律，对自己所造成的伤害，必再现于后代的身上。撒但很清楚这一点，所以他就藉着遗传使他的工作长存。但愿丈夫和妻子在婚姻生活中互相帮助、彼此造福。惟愿他们认真考虑每一次不节制和性放纵的代价。这些放纵不能增进爱情，也无法使对方得到提拔变得高尚。那些愿意放纵兽欲和满足私欲的人必在他们儿女身上看到自己卑贱行为的烙印，就是他们自己身体和道德污秽的粗俗鄙劣。藉着身、心和道德方面的造就，人人都能成为基督的同工。父母的责任重大。他们的儿女是祸是福，全在乎他们。{PC 166.3}
在每一个家庭中都有一个高得多的标准要达到。人人都可以上升。藉着亲近上帝，他们可以得着能力抵挡魔鬼;因为上帝的灵为他们举起旌旗抵挡仇敌。除了自私地放纵淫荡情欲，不知道更高的生活准则的父亲和母亲不是基督徒。他们是在降低理智和道德品质的标准，是在堕落到禽兽的地步，而不是向上与耶稣基督和谐地工作，在人身上恢复上帝的道德形像。低贱的、完全不自然的食欲得到了珍爱。{PC 166.4}
上帝要求我们的各教会进行改良。撒但正在设法争夺每个人的生命。他试图让上帝所珍视的人性变得残忍。但如果食欲得到理智而敬畏上帝之心的控制，就能培养纯洁属灵的特性，拒绝接受奴役，摧残身体、精神和道德价值，让基督以高昂的代价赎回的世人，变得残疾无能，没有价值，深受试探的折磨。{PC 166.5}
要避免因不节制的习惯而让上帝所赐应予以聪明利用的才能麻木。不要接触、品尝、饮用任何一种含有酒精的酒。但不节制不止于此。有大量从未被我们人类的创造者创造的欲望被制造出来。每一次违反祂已在我们的生命中制定的简单的自然律法，也就违背了上帝的律法。这律法涉及整个人体。身体的每条神经和肌肉纤维都是上帝所造的，这样的构造有助于人的幸福。但人发明了许多东西。他对待身体好像它不会受到身体的律法惩戒似的，他这样得罪身体就是侮辱他的创造者。{PC 166.6}
撒但已在这方面实现了他的计划。人类的食欲变坏了，他的器官和能力被削弱、残废、患病了。这些后果都是撒但用他似是而非的试探所招致的，被他用来嘲弄上帝。他在上帝面前提出，人的身体是基督赎买的产业，而人却以何等丑陋的样子来代表造他的主啊!上帝受了羞辱，因为人在主面前败坏了自己的行为。{PC 167.1}
人类的创造主预备了我们这个身体的活机器。身体的各个功能都出于创造主奇妙聪明的作为。上帝也已经保证要维持人体机器的健康运转，只要人顺从上帝的律法，与上帝合作。每一个管理人体机器的定律，都当视之为与上帝圣言同出于神圣的来源，具有同样的性质，和同样的重要性。每一次不谨慎、不留心的行动，任何因忽视祂对于人体所制定的特殊规律，从而损伤了主奇妙之机器的，都是违犯了上帝的诫命。在自然界，我们可以观看并欣赏上帝的作为，但唯有人体是最为奇妙的!{PC 167.2}
人在理智初现的时候，就应当了解有关人体结构的知识。在这里耶和华已赐下祂自己的一个样本，因为人是按上帝的形像创造的。撒但决心要在人身上清除上帝的道德形像。他要把人的智力，就是人最高贵的天赋，变成最有效的毁灭工具，用罪恶污染人所接触的一切事物。{PC 167.3}
不仅人类，连兽类也因人所行出来的撒但的品性而受苦。一个人成了撒但的合作伙伴，并以邪恶的行为试探、引诱和欺骗他的同胞。其必然结果是因违反道德律法而导致身体患病;“只因不法的事增多，许多人的爱心才渐渐冷淡了”(太24:12)。撒但坚定的目的是要欺骗人类家庭到如此的程度以致他能将他们作为一批群众带在自己身边，与他同工，使人相信上帝的律法不再是人类必须遵守的。于是他就会找到媒介，会成倍地提高他的效率，诱导人忽视上帝的律法。当他们这么做的时候，他就用铁杖来统治他们。{PC 167.4}
上帝的道中对罪的惟一定义就是违背律法。这是不可原谅的，也没有任何辩护或正当的理由。这将是对罪的始作俑者和所有曾在天庭与他联合起来的天使们最后的和永恒的谴责，他们加入了邪恶的联盟，将自己与那个大背道者相认同。当被问道：“你为什么这么做呢?”每一个人都会沉默;叛逆的世界将在上帝面前无言以对。论到撒但，上帝说过：“你从受造之日所行的都完全，后来在你中间又察出不义”(结28:15)。{PC 167.5}
罪藉着那曾为圣天使首领的一位的背叛而进入了世界。究竟是什么造成了如此巨大的变化，把一个忠诚的、受尊敬的对象变成了一个叛教者?答案是：“你因美丽心中高傲，又因荣光败坏智慧。”要是主没有将遮掩约柜的基路伯造得如此美丽，如此接近祂自己的形像;要是上帝没有授予他特别的尊荣;要是在美丽、权能和尊荣的恩赐方面还有什么留下没完成，那么撒但原会有所借口。然而上帝宣布：“你无所不备，智慧充足，全然美丽。你曾在伊甸上帝的园中，佩戴各样宝石，……你是那受膏遮掩约柜的基路伯;我将你安置在上帝的圣山上;你在发光如火的宝石中间往来。你从受造之日所行的都完全，后来在你中间又察出不义。因你贸易很多，就被强暴的事充满，以致犯罪，所以我因你亵渎圣地，就从上帝的山驱逐你。遮掩约柜的基路伯啊，我已将你从发光如火的宝石中除灭。你因美丽心中高傲，又因荣光败坏智慧，我已将你摔倒在地，使你倒在君王面前，好叫他们目睹眼见。你因罪孽众多，贸易不公，就亵渎你那里的圣所。故此，我使火从你中间发出，烧灭你，使你在所有观看的人眼前变为地上的炉灰。各国民中，凡认识你的，都必为你惊奇。你令人惊恐，不再存留于世，直到永远”(结28:12-19)。{PC 168.1}
唉，为什么世界看不到他们在哪里漂移，以及必然的结果。主已行事，将活的传道者和生命的道一同差了来。对一班因撒但的计谋而不认识他的人来说，这是上帝的道。当主的传道人真诚地宣扬生命之道时，应当有那些与他有联系的人来帮助他的工作。{PC 168.2}
福音的种子若没有天上的雨露苏醒其中的生命，撒种的工作就不会有什么收成。在新约圣经还没有写成一卷之前，圣灵就已降在那些在祷告着的使徒身上。随后，他们的仇敌对于他们作了这样的见证：“你们倒把你们的道理充满了耶路撒冷”(徒5:28)。{PC 168.3}
教师自己必须是真理的活化身。他的舍己和博爱是他的证据，证明他传的是天国的信息。他自己已吃了上帝儿子的肉，喝了祂的血，而这就是永生。他既被圣灵教导，若不拯救灵魂，就不会满足。
M. V. H.1907年1月11日{PC 168.4}
Ms-3- ’97
Health Reform
“Sunnyside,” Cooranbong, N. S. W. January 11, 1897
I was awakened at 11:30 last night, and commenced writing. We were in a meeting where important instruction in many lines was being given. Among those assembled were physicians, editors, publishers, ministers, and a large number of other persons. We were considering many things in regard to health reform. The matters of exercise and reformatory methods in regard to the foods we eat were under discussion. Some were advocating a flesh meat diet. Speaking in support of this diet they said that without it they were weak in physical strength.?{PC 160.1}
But the words of our Teacher to us were, “As a man thinketh, so is he.” The flesh of dead animals was not the original food for man. Man was permitted to eat it after the flood because all vegetation had been destroyed. But the curse pronounced upon man and the earth and every living thing has made strange and wonderful changes. Since the flood the human race has been shortening its period of existence. Physical, mental and moral degeneracy is rapidly increasing in these latter days.?{PC 160.2}
The educational work in the medical missionary line is a great advance step toward awakening man to his moral responsibilities. Had the ministers taken hold of this work in accordance with the light that God has given them in various lines, there would have been a most decided reformation in eating, in drinking, and in dressing. But there are those who have stood directly in the way of the advance of Health Reform. They have held the people back by their indifferent or depreciatory remarks, and their supposed pleasantries and jokes. They themselves and a large number of others have been sufferers, even unto death, but all have not yet learned wisdom.?{PC 160.3}
The Lord would vindicate the word He has given to His servants. Had all united to walk in the light, from the time the light was first given on this subject, there would have been an army of sensible arguments employed to vindicate the work of God. But it has been by most aggressive warfare that any advancement has been made. The souls and bodies of the people have been [fast becoming corrupted, a mass of disease. This would not have been] the case, if those who claimed to believe the truth had lived out its sacred principles in their lives. But these were unwilling to deny self, unwilling to yield their mind and will to the will of God; they were determined to have their own way, and they have realized in their own sufferings the sure results of such a course.?{PC 160.4}
God has claims upon all who are engaged in his service. He desires that every power and endowment shall be under the divine control, and that they shall be as healthy as careful, strictly temperate habits can make them. We are under obligation to God to make an unreserved consecration of ourselves to him, body and soul, with all the faculties appreciated as God’s entrusted gifts, to be employed in his service. All our energies and capabilities?are to be constantly strengthened and improved during this period of probationary time.?{PC 160.5}
But those who have occupied positions of influence have not appreciated the work which has been so long neglected. They have not become interested and diligent students of the building which God has made for his habitation. They consider it far more important to become learners upon subjects of less consequence to the human agent. Thousands upon thousands know nothing of the body, and how to care for it. David declared, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” And when God has given us such a habitation, why should not every apartment be critically examined. The chambers of the mind and the heart apartment are the most important. Why should men and women continue in ignorance, and live in the basement of the house, enjoying sensual and debasing pleasures??{PC 161.1}
Great care should be taken when the change is made from a flesh meat to a vegetarian diet to supply the table with wisely prepared, well-cooked articles of food. So much porridge eating is a mistake. The dry food, that requires mastication is far preferable. The health food preparations are a blessing in this respect. Good brown bread and rolls, prepared in a simple manner yet with painstaking effort will be healthful. Bread should never have the slightest taint of sourness. It should be cooked until it is most thoroughly done. Thus all softness and stickiness will be avoided.?{PC 161.2}
For those who can use them, good vegetables, prepared in a healthful manner are better than soft mushes or porridge. Fruits used with thoroughly cooked bread two or three days old will be more healthful than fresh bread. This with slow and thorough mastication, will furnish all that the system requires.?{PC 161.3}
“As a man thinketh so is he.” If the appetite is allowed to rule, then the mind will be brought under its control. When the stomach is educated to discard that which will prove only an injury to it, the simplest kinds of food will satisfy its hunger.?{PC 161.4}
It is not well to take a great variety of foods at one meal. When fruit and bread, together with a variety of other foods that do not agree, are crowded into the stomach at one meal, what can we expect but that a disturbance will be created??{PC 161.5}
The mixing largely of white or brown flour bread with milk in the place of water is not a healthful preparation. If the bread thus cooked is allowed to stand over, and is then broken open, there will frequently be seen long strings like cobwebs, and this, in warm weather, soon causes fermentation to take place in the stomach. Milk should not be used in place of water in breadmaking. All this is extra expense, and is not wholesome. The taste may be educated so that it will prefer bread prepared in this way; but the more simply it is made, the better it will satisfy hunger, and the more natural will be the appetite to enjoy the plainest diet.?{PC 161.6}
We had a large family to cook for, and the ten quarts of milk which our cow gave each day was not sufficient for our family?use. At times three extra quarts had to be purchased to give us enough to mix the bread with milk. This was a most extravagant business, and wholly unnecessary. I had this order of things changed, and the testimony of nearly all was that the bread was more appetizing than when mixed with milk.?{PC 161.7}
Every housekeeper should feel it her duty to educate herself to make good sweet bread, and in the most inexpensive manner; and the family should refuse to have upon the table bread that is heavy and sour; for it is injurious. There are a large number of poor families who buy the common baker’s bread which is often sour, and is not healthful for the stomach. In every line of cooking the questions that should be considered is, “How shall the food be prepared in the most natural and inexpensive manner?” And there should be careful study that the fragments of food left over from the table be not wasted. Study how, that in some way these fragments of food shall not be lost. This skill, economy, and tact is a fortune. In the warmer part of the season, prepare less food. Use more dry substance. There are many poor families, who, although they have scarcely enough to eat, can often be enlightened as to why they are poor, there are so many jots and tittles wasted.?{PC 162.1}
The meat diet is the serious question. Shall human beings live on the flesh of dead animals? The answer, from the light that God has given is, No; decidedly no. Health Reform institutions should educate on this question. Physicians who claim to understand the human organism ought not to encourage their patients to subsist on the flesh of dead animals. They should point out the increase of disease in the animal kingdom. The testimony of examiners is that very few animals are free from disease, and that the practice of eating largely of meat is contracting diseases of all kinds, - cancers, tumors, scrofula, tuberculosis, and numbers of other like affections. If men will subsist on the food that God has so abundantly provided without having it first pass into the animal organism and become sinew and muscle, and then take it second hand by eating of the corpse, his health would be much better insured.?{PC 162.2}
The ministers in our land should become intelligent upon Health Reform. They need to become acquainted with the science of physiology. They will be intelligent in regard to the laws that govern physical life, and their bearings upon the health of mind and soul. Then they will be able to speak correctly upon this subject. In their obedience to physical laws that are to hold forth the word of life to the people, and lead up higher and still higher in the work of reform. “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest amongst the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. All who claim to be teachers should urge, both by precept and example the necessity of abstaining from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.?{PC 162.3}
What shall arouse those who claim to be walking in the light that is shining upon the people of God in these last days? A lethargy of unconscious sensualism through indulgence of perverted appetite, a constant submitting of soul and body and spirit to moral defilement is upon the people. Under the marriage vow, which our Creator has instituted, appetite has been perverted and indulged. And these lustful appetites, with their destroying power, have been transmitted from parents to children, and so intensified that their names are recorded in the books of heaven as transgressors of God’s law. Upon their very countenances is imprinted the sin of Sodom. And continuance in these sins will bring the sure and terrible results. They will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. They will receive the sentence, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according, as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”?{PC 163.1}
This is the final judgment. Let the senses of all be aroused; for many whose names now appear on the church books are not the children of God. In the books of heaven it is recorded of them, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and found wanting.” Let every church in our land arouse to the importance of studying the word of God, and with much earnest prayer, not stand afar off, but “draw nigh unto God.” The promise is, “He will draw nigh unto you.” Then you may keep life in your souls, and obtain a sound experience. Then you will not be of that class of whom it is written, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”?{PC 163.2}
Let the Lord Jesus come into your houses and into your hearts. Every talent entrusted to us is to be used and improved in accordance with the will of the Giver. Days, months, and years are added to our existence that we may improve our opportunities and advantages for working out our own individual salvation, and promoting the well-being of others by our unselfish life. Thus may we build up the kingdom of Christ, and make manifest the glory of God.?{PC 163.3}
Human exertion, physical and intellectual ability, will be taxed to the utmost to keep the feet of the youth in the path where we can trace the footprints of Jesus. The young men have not had all the attention that they should have had in order to develop their talents. The arrangements made in the missionary line of work are far in the rear. Councils have been corrupted, and board meetings been conducted by inefficient members who felt not the necessity of having the constraining power of the Holy Spirit upon the youth, to help them to choose the illumination from above. The youth need sanctified example, an acknowledgment of Omnipotence in the grand work of becoming home and foreign missionaries. They need to behold in the cross of Christ the only?true power to sustain the human agent in his continuous struggle against temptations, amid disappointments and reverses. How many of the General Conference have said to the workers “Go,” but have left many to make brick without straw, have given them no facilities or help.?{PC 163.4}
The malarious, poisonous atmosphere, which surrounds the souls of those who are dead in trespasses and sins, is causing them to become like the inhabitants of the Noatic world, who, because they chose to follow the imaginations of their own corrupt minds, and dishonor God by their wicked inventions, they became corrupt in body and soul, and hated the God who made them. God sent them a message that they should not live, but should be destroyed because of their wicked works. And whole families today are in need of being terribly alarmed. They have been, and still are, corrupting their way before God. They are so steeped in licentiousness that they do not discern the difference between the pure affections given them of God, the attributes of human nature, and the destructive lusts which by indulgence and wicked inventions make them as sinful as were those before the flood and the inhabitants of Sodom.?{PC 164.1}
In assuming human nature that He might reach to the very depths of human woe and misery, and lift man up, Christ has shown what estimate He places upon the human race. In this work everything was at stake. Satan claimed to be the lawful owner of the fallen race; and with what persistent efforts did he seek to overthrow Christ through his subtlety! It was only by most desperate conflict with the powers of Satan that Christ could accomplish his purpose of restoring the almost obliterated image of God in man, and place his own signature upon his forehead. It was a desperate battle; for Satan had so long worked in league with human intelligences as to about completely intercept every ray of light shining from the throne of God upon the human mind. The cross of Calvary alone could destroy the works of the devil. In that wondrous sacrifice all eyes were called to “behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world.” The love of Christ kindles in the heart of all who continue to behold him.?{PC 164.2}
Satan’s ear caught the words spoken by John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world,” and he determined to unite all the power of his army and of human beings with himself to accomplish the ruin of the race. He would commence with the appetite. He could bring his temptations to bear upon this point, and by a perverted appetite destroy the mental and physical force, and make man appear a revolting, polluted being before his Maker. And Satan has carried out his purpose.?{PC 164.3}
All nature makes manifest the work of God. Man is fearfully and wonderfully made, and if man had obeyed the laws of Jehovah in his natural laws, the image of God would have been revealed in him. But by sinning against his own body, by indulging his unnatural appetite and disturbing the action of the human machinery; by the use of alcoholic drinks, narcotics, and the flesh of diseased animals, man has dis-ordered and crippled the Lord’s divine arrangements. Nature does her best to expel the poisonous drug tobacco, but frequently she is overborne. She gives up the struggles to expel the intruder, and the life is sacrificed in?the conflict. Every pernicious drug placed in the human stomach, whether by prescription of physicians, or by man himself doing violence to the human organism, injures the whole machinery. Every intemperate indulgence of lustful appetite is at war with natural instinct and the healthful condition of every nerve and muscle and organ of the wonderful human machinery which through the Creator’s powers possesses organic life.?{PC 164.4}
Nature would do her work wisely and well if the human agent would, in his treatment of the body, co-operate with the divine purpose. But how Satan and his whole confederacy rejoice to see how easily his powers of deception and art can persuade men to form an appetite for most unpleasant stimulants and narcotics. And then when nature has been overborne, enfeebled in all her working force, there is the drug medication to come from the physicians, to kill the remaining vital force and leave men miserable wrecks of suffering, of imbecility, of insanity, and of loathsome disease. God is hidden from the human observation by the hellish shadow of Satan.?{PC 165.1}
In?Luke 4:16-19, Christ announces his mission and work for the world: “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Jesus himself became man’s ransom, his liberator from the oppressive power of Satan. “Ye are not your own,” he says, “for ye are bought with a price.” We are bought from a power whose slaves we were. And the price our ransom cost was the only begotten Son of God. His blood alone could ransom guilty man. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”?{PC 165.2}
O, if every one could discern these matters as they have been presented to me those who are now so careless, so indifferent in regard to their character building; those who plead for indulgence in a flesh meat diet, would never open their lips in justification of an appetite for the flesh of dead animals. Such a diet contaminates the blood of their veins, and stimulates the lower animal passions. It enfeebles keen perception and vigor of thought to the understanding of God and the truth, and a knowledge of themselves.?{PC 165.3}
Christ gave his life a ransom for many. Christ was to come under the cruel power of Satan. Satan hoped if he could once gain the supremacy he would overcome Christ. He had obtained mastery over the human family, and through disobedience to God’s holy law, had brought them under his jurisdiction. He unjustly claimed them as his own subjects. But Christ takes the prey from the enemy. Satan was to be overcome by the Son of man.?{PC 165.4}
Christ removed every obstruction that man might return to his allegiance to God. Christ became subject to suffering in behalf of man. And yet man by his selfish indulgence, is willing to place himself in slippery places, and through unnatural appetite obliterate the image of God. Man, who has been endowed with physical, mental, and moral power, has placed himself where he is a weakling. Satan knows that he cannot overcome man unless he can control his will. He can do this by deceiving man so that he will co-operate with him in transgressing the laws of nature in eating and drinking, which is transgression of the law of God.?{PC 166.1}
Here is where the subject on intemperance grows into importance. Here is where Satan works to so confuse minds by a perverted appetite that man cannot discern sacred things from common. Cheap things are placed on a level with the sacred. Animalism is strengthened, the higher powers weakened.?{PC 166.2}
The physical and mental condition of the parents is perpetuated in their offspring. This is a matter that is not duly considered. Wherever the habits of the parents are contrary to physical law, the injury to themselves will be repeated in the future generations. Satan knows this very well, and he is perpetuating his work through transmission. Let the husband and wife in their married life prove a help and a blessing to one another. Let them consider the cost of every indulgence in intemperance and sensualism. These indulgences do not increase love, not ennoble and elevate. Those who will indulge the animal passions and gratify lust will surely stamp upon their offspring the debasing practices, and grossness of their own physical and moral defilement. By physical, mental, and moral culture all may become co-workers with Christ. Very much depends upon the parents. It lies with them whether they shall bring into the world children who will prove a blessing or curse.?{PC 166.3}
There is a much higher standard to be reached in every family. All can rise. By drawing nigh to God, they may receive power to resist the devil; for the Spirit of God lifts up a standard for them against the enemy. The father and the mother who know no higher rule of life than selfish indulgence of lustful passions are not Christians. They are lowering the standard of intellectual and moral character, and are descending down toward the brute creation, rather than upward to work in harmony with Jesus Christ to restore the moral image of God in man. Appetites are cherished that are low and debasing, and entirely unnatural.?{PC 166.4}
God calls for reform in our churches. Satan is playing the game of life for every soul. He is seeking to brutify humanity whom God values. But when the appetite is held under the control of an intelligent, God-fearing mind, there will be a cultivation of pure, spiritual attributes. There will be a refusal to be led into a slavery that kills both physical, mental, and moral worth, and leaves the human agent, for whom Christ has paid so high a price, crippled, worthless, and tossed about with temptation.?{PC 166.5}
Benumb not by intemperate habits, the faculties that God has given for wise improvement. Touch not, taste not, handle not,?spirituous liquors in any form. But intemperance does not stop here. There are manufactured appetites which the author of our being has never created, and every departure from the simple natural laws which he has established in our being, is a departure from the law of God. This law embraces the treatment of the entire being. Every nerve and fiber and muscle of the body has been constructed by God, and so arranged as to minister happiness to the human agent. But man has sought out many inventions. He has treated his body as if its laws had no such thing as penalty, and in this sin against his body he has dishonored his Maker.?{PC 166.6}
Satan has carried out his plans in this respect. Man’s appetite has become perverted, his organs and powers enfeebled, crippled, and diseased. And these results which he has through his specious temptations brought about he uses to taunt God with. He presents before God the appearance of the human being whom Christ has purchased as his property. And what an unsightly representation he is of his Maker! God is dishonored, because man has corrupted his ways before the Lord.?{PC 167.1}
The Creator of man has arranged the living machinery of our bodies. Every function is wonderfully and wisely made. And God pledged himself to keep this human machinery in healthful action if the human agent will obey his laws and co-operate with God. Every law governing the human machinery is to be considered just as truly divine in origin, in character and in importance as the Word of God. Every careless, inattentive action, any abuse put upon the Lord’s wonderful mechanism, by disregarding his specified laws in the human habitation, is a violation of God’s law. We may behold and admire the work of God in the natural world, but the human habitation is the most wonderful.?{PC 167.2}
From the first dawn of reason, the human mind should become intelligent in regard to the physical structure. Here Jehovah has given a specimen of himself for man was made in the image of God. It is Satan’s determined work to destroy the moral image of God in man. He would make the intelligence of man, his highest, noblest gift, the most destructive agent, to pollute with sin everything he touches.?{PC 167.3}
Not only the human, but the brute creation are made to suffer through Satan’s attributes wrought out through the human agent. One human being becomes Satan’s co-partner to tempt, allure, and deceive his fellow-men by vicious practices. And the sure result is diseased bodies, because of the violation of moral law; “Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold.” It is Satan’s determined purpose to deceive the human family to such an extent that he can bring them as a mass on his side to work with him in making man believe that the law of God is no longer obligatory upon the human race. Then he will find agencies which will multiply his efficiency in leading man to ignore the law of God. When they do this, then he rules them with a rod of iron.?{PC 167.4}
The only definition of sin given in God’s Word is transgression of the law. It is not excusable, and has no defence or justification. It will be the final and eternal condemnation of the originator of sin and all the angels who united with him in the heavenly courts, who joined the confederacy of evil, identifying?themselves with the great apostate. When the question comes, “Why have ye done thus?” every tongue will be silent; the rebellious world will stand speechless before God. Of Satan God had said, “Thou was perfect in all thy ways from the day that thou wast created, until iniquity was found in thee.”?{PC 167.5}
Sin entered the world by the defection of one who stood at the head of the holy angels. What was it that wrought so great a change, transforming a loyal, honored subject into an apostate? The answer is given, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Had not the Lord made the covering cherub so beautiful, so closely resembling his own image; had not God awarded him special honor; had anything been left undone in the gifts of beauty and power and honor, then Satan might have had some excuse. But God declares, “Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering....Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God: thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in all thy ways from the day that thou wast created until iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness; I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuary by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.”?{PC 168.1}
Why O why cannot the world see where they are drifting, and the sure result. The Lord has wrought in sending the living preacher with the word of life. It is the word of God to a people who through Satan’s devices know him not. When the Lord’s ministers in sincerity hold forth the word of life, there should be those connected with him to help him in the work.?{PC 168.2}
The sowing of the gospel seed will not be a success unless the seed is quickened into life by the dew of heaven. Before one book of the New Testament was written, the Holy Spirit came upon the praying apostles, and the testimony of their enemies was, “Ye have filled all Jerusalem with your doctrine.”?{PC 168.3}
The teacher himself must be the living embodiment of truth. His self denial and charity is his witness that he bears the message of heaven. He has himself eaten of the flesh and drank of the blood of the Son of God, and this is eternal life. Taught by the Spirit, he will not be satisfied with less than the salvation of souls.?{PC 168.4}
M. V. H. January 11, ’07
搜索
