J. LAMONT by J. Lamont

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 5, 1872

J. LAMONT

By J. Lamont

Swine-Raising.

Is it right to raise swine for market? Let us examine this question a little from a Bible standpoint.

The Bible is a book of principles. See the Saviour's statement that all the law and the prophets hang or depend on the two great commandments. Matt. 22: 37-40.

Who thinks horse-racing, card-playing, dancing, etc., right because they are not specifically named and forbidden? Now every Bible reader knows that the animals were separated into two classes, clean and unclean. We find this distinction recognized before the flood, more than a thousand years before the Lord's people were known as Jews. If it has not always existed, will some one inform us when it was established? Dogs as well as hogs were pronounced unclean. Deut. 14. Both are used as food. Dogs by the “heathen Chinese,” swine by Christians. “Thou shalt not bring . . . the price of a dog into the house of the Lord for any vow;” and the reason is given, because it is an “abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Deut. 23: 18. Then must not the “price” of swine's flesh be an abomination also? They both stand on the same basis: if the “price” of one must not be brought “into the house of the Lord,” neither must the “price” of the other.

Now, as the Lord claims a tithe, or tenth, of all his people's increase (Matt. 23: 23), what can the swine-raiser do with his swine money? If you withhold a tithe of your increase, you rob God. Mal. 3: 8. Of the two evils, do not choose the least, if there is any least in this matter, but choose neither by ceasing to keep contraband property.

J. LAMONT

Kansas.