Temperance by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Apr 6, 1882

Temperance.

By Editor

Christian Purity.

WHILE some religious teachers think that the church is out of place in requiring cleanliness as a requisite to membership, we are glad to see others stand for the right. The following from the American Baptist Flag is good:—

Read what God says: 2 Cor. 7:1: “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” And 1 Cor. 3:16, 17: “Know ye not that ye are the temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Thess. 2:3-5: “For our exhortation was not of deceit nor of uncleanliness, nor in guile. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; as not pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.” 1 Thess. 4:7: “For God hath not called us unto uncleanliness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet. 2:9, 10: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished; But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanliness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed.”

The central idea of the religion of Christ is purity, and it applies to the body as well as to the soul. Is it any wonder that God requires a pure temple to dwell in? Would we offer a dear friend, who came to see us, a filthy room to occupy? Nay, but we would provide for his reception with the greatest care. How much more careful should we be to furnish a pure temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in.

We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, and to keep under the body. Of course we include the passions, lusts, carnal affections, anything contrary to the principle of faith or the law of love, anything that would in any way supplant the stay of the Divine Being. Now how can a man be said to keep under the body, when at his leisure he must partake of that which, to a considerable degree, clogs the brain with a breathed smoke, and pampers the affections of the flesh?

Now the common use of tobacco is a most filthy habit to lungs, mouth, and clothes; it is a perfect stench. It is not necessary to see a pipe in a man's mouth to know whether he is a smoker; he literally stinks as he goes about, his very breath is fetid and loathsome. How can such uncleanliness be reconciled with the purity required in the above passages of Holy Writ, and indeed not by them only, but by the whole gospel? If cleanliness is a part of Christianity, it undoubtedly is, to be filthy is to be wicked; yet the common use of tobacco is extremely filthy and therefore sinful. Besides, God positively asserts in his word that he who dares to defile his temple shall be destroyed.

We do not expect anything better of horse jockeys and debauchers than that they should indulge in such filthy lusts of the flesh, but the children of God—the men and women who profess the holy religion of Christ—are expected to put away every unclean thing, and to abstain even from the appearance of evil.