HEALTH REFORM by Roswell F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 30, 1877

HEALTH REFORM.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

Shall we go back? If we have gone wrong, it becomes us to repent; but if we have started in the right direction, it is a shame to go back. Some have been very cautious about going too fast, and it has resulted in going fast the other way. While we admit we have precious light, let us constantly walk in the direction of the light.

Each has the privilege to choose for himself. There is no compulsion. If others do not come up to our ideas of the reform, we have no quarrel with them. If any think it a grievous task to follow the light on this subject, they are excused, so far as we are concerned; but our reason for following the testimonies is that we fully believe it to be for our own good.

We believe such testimonies as the following: “Adam fell upon the point of appetite.” “Christ began his work of redemption by reforming the physical habits of man. The declension in virtue and the degeneracy of the race are chiefly attributable to the indulgence of perverted appetite.” “There is a solemn responsibility upon all, especially upon ministers who teach the truth, to overcome upon the point of appetite.” “Intemperance in eating, even of food of the right quality, will have a prostrating influence upon the system, and will blunt the keener and holier emotions.” “Intemperance commences at our tables.” “The only safe course is to touch not, taste not, and handle not, tea, coffee, wines, tobacco, opium, and alcoholic drinks.” “The highly seasoned flesh-meats, and tea and coffee, which some mothers encourage their children to use, are preparing the way for them to crave stronger stimulants, as tobacco, and the use of tobacco encourages the appetite for liquor. The use of tobacco and liquor invariably lessens the nerve power.”

“Men who are engaged in giving the last message of warning to the world, which is to decide the destiny of souls, should make a practical application in their own lives of the truths they preach to others.” “As our first parents lost Eden through the indulgence of appetite, our only hope of regaining Eden is through the firm denial of appetite and passion.”

“The idea should never be given that it is of little consequence what we eat, because we, from principle, leave meat, butter, mince pies, spices, lard, and that which irritates the stomach and destroys health. There are some who go to extremes.” “Flesh-meats, and rich food, and an impoverished diet, will produce the same results.” “Large quantities of sugar and milk eaten together are injurious. They impart impurities to the system. Animals from which milk is obtained are not always healthy. They are diseased. A cow may be apparently well in the morning, and die before night. Then she was diseased in the morning, and her milk was diseased, but you did not know it. The animal creation is diseased. Flesh-meats are diseased.” “Sugar clogs the system.” “Flesh-meats will depreciate the blood. Cook meat with spices, and eat it with rich pies and cakes, and you have a bad quality of blood. The system is too heavily taxed in disposing of this kind of food. Mince pies, which should never find a place in any human stomach, and the pickles, which never should have any place there, will give a miserable quality of blood.”

Believing these testimonies, and others similar to the last, respecting cheese, saleratus, etc., we must be excused in trying to live in harmony with them. Instead of backsliding, we ought to progress in the direction of healthful living. And we believe it will be seen by and by that those who have followed the light most closely on this subject have taken the wisest course. We believe the light has been given because we need it; and that the time is at hand when those who have neglected it will realize a great loss. R. F. COTTRELL.