Untitled article by Francis Gould

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, March 17, 1868

FromReview and Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 14

TEMPERANCE.

By Francis Gould

TEMPERANCE is a Christian grace, and has more to do in forming and developing moral character, shaping and directing the minds of men into a correct, consistent, and Christian course of life, than most people are aware. The Holy Spirit has seen fit to place it among a catalogue of Christian graces, as a prominent stepping-stone upon which we are to plant our feet, in order to bear away a glorious victory, and secure a home in the earth made new. Peter declares this fact when he says, “Add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance,” and so on, until the list is complete. See 2 Pet. i, 5–7.

Temperance means moderation, sobriety, calmness, which is the result of self-denial. Self-gratification is one of the greatest sins of the present time; hence there never was a time when the graces of the Spirit, and especially that of temperance, were more adapted to the spiritual wants of the professed followers of Christ to direct them how to live, and to teach them how to overcome their selfish desires and propensities, and fit them for the society of holy angels in the kingdom of God.

Paul, in teaching a preparation for the coming of Christ, exhorts the young men to be sober-minded, and then adds, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness, and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus ii, 11–14.

In looking over the condition of human society at the present time, as apart from the effects of Christianity, we find, at least, two general characters exhibited before us. One character, or class, comprising those who are proud, ambitious, selfish, covetous, grasping after the things of the world, and bowing at the shrine of pleasure and fashion, while the other class are low, vile, reckless, and far below the common level of mankind.

The great object of the plan of salvation, and of the grace of God, when the Spirit of God operates upon the mind, is to level up and level down, until we are brought upon one common basis, the Christian level, the holy standard, the rule of perfection, where our minds will be equal and well balanced, where we shall develop an excellent and holy character, and secure us health and strength to perform those Christian duties which shall be well-pleasing and commendable in the sight of God.

Temperance acts a conspicuous part in this matter. Hear Paul: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery, is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.” 1 Cor. ix, 24, 25.

The antediluvians were noted for intemperance and self-gratification. Says Christ: “For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and knew not until the flood came and took them all away.” Matt. xxiv, 38, 39. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.” Luke xvii, 28, 29. But what next? “Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”

We who live in this age are not left in darkness in relation to duty. The light of present truth shines clearly upon our pathway. The third angel’s message is especially designed to correct God’s erring people, and a course of self-denial is enjoined upon us. We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. “Know ye not that ye are the temple 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 Cor. iii, 16, 17.

The work of overcoming is not the work of a moment. It is a progressive work, and is accomplished according to the grace given us. To illustrate: A building is to be erected. The timber for the purpose is taken from the wilderness in its rough and crooked state. The rule and line are stretched upon it, and its crookedness, deformity, and unfitness appears. The master-workman with his broad-axe hews it down to the line. Next comes the smoothing-plane, which works off the rough edges, making it smooth and uniform, so that it corresponds with the standard of measurement. It is then placed upon the spot, and the level is placed upon it. If it is too high, it is lowered; if too low, it is raised. Thus the stick is finished.

Man, in a state of nature, is crooked, rough, and sinful, unfit for the society of Jesus and holy angels. The law of God, the rule of moral action, and line of measurement, shows him his true condition. He sees that he is a sinner, and feels the need of pardon through the blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The gospel axe is then laid at the root of the tree. The hewing, smoothing, refining and leveling process goes on, until he is fitted for his place in the spiritual building. Faith leads out in company with virtue and knowledge to do the first part of the work, temperance leading out in connection with patience, godliness, and brotherly-kindness, to do the smoothing and leveling, while charity (love), the crowning grace, does the purifying and refining.

The prophet in referring to John the Baptist, and speaking of the work of grace, says: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.” Isa. xl, 3, 4.

May the good work among the remnant go on, until the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. Eph. ii, 21.

FRANCIS GOULD.