Self-Denial and the Abuses of Appetite
By Jos. Clarke
“The abuses of the stomach, and gratification of appetite, are the fruitful source of most church trials.”—Testimony No. 13, p. 66. The above I copy because it is an important point to be considered, in church difficulties; and if properly considered in time, would no doubt prevent church trials. The author further states the case thus: “Those who eat and work intemperately and irrationally, talk and act irrationally. An intemperate man cannot be a patient man. It is not necessary to drink alcoholic liquors in order to be intemperate, &c.” p. 66. Please turn to this page and read what is further said in reference to this subject. It should be written upon the heart, and it should be carefully practiced. It is worthy of our most earnest attention. Is it possible that sensible men and women are gluttons? Are we some of us so foolish as to let appetite lead us into Satan’s snares, lead us away from God, the giver of every gift? Certainly, the above quoted remarks are timely; but shall we heed them in time? They are earnest; shall we be earnest in heeding them? Not all offend in this silly, foolish vice; but it is to be feared that many do. Let us all awake to lessons of self-denial. It will pay to deny self, and be temperate, whether you are saved or not. Temperance is a virtue which pays its way right along. So does every virtue. It is well to value our gifts; if we do this, we shall follow them with our tears and prayers. Religion is opposed to recklessness and waste. It never gives prayerless alms. He who withholds justice and alms because he is poor, must not complain if poverty should increase his burdens. Parents, who neglect to control their families, will probably themselves, sooner or later, be controlled by their children. Sinful pleasures, at first, are viewed as chains of gold; but afterwards, they become cables of iron. Mankind are forgetful: they have forgotten their Creator, and they have forgotten his law: and, wonderful to tell, they have so far forgotten history that most of our race ignore or deny the only authentic record of Jehovah’s work. They deny the record of the deluge, and ridicule those who do believe. In fact, romance is generally preferred to history by the reading public: history is regarded as dry and insipid; and the hero of the latest novel is far more prominent than any of those ancient worthies who sealed their testimony with their own blood. Such being the case, it is not strange that facts are forgotten. No amount of zeal, or good works, can make up for lack of pure and holy Christian love.