HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE by R. F. Cottrell

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 31, 1879

HEALTH AND TEMPERANCE.

By R. F. Cottrell

Light upon the laws of life and health reveals to us duties which cannot be disregarded with impunity. Light disregarded and duties neglected tend to sear the conscience and blunt the moral sensibilities, so that the distinction between right and wrong is less and less discerned until it fades entirely away.

As a people we have been receiving greater light on the word of God and religious duty than any other people living. We are accountable to God for the use we make of this light. If not lived out, it will be turned in us to darkness; and as Jesus said, “How great is that darkness!”

We have talked much of health and temperance reform; and have thus advertised ourselves to the world as reformers. We take the highest ground in this reform, as well as on Bible truth; therefore we ought to be reformers in the highest sense of the word; and we should use every good and efficient means to spread true temperance principles and save souls.

We have reason to rejoice and thank Heaven that a movement has been inaugurated among us to extend our influence in the cause of temperance. While we have good reasons to decline uniting with the secret organizations of our times who hold the banner of temperance; yet we need not seem to them as favoring the other side and giving our influence against the good work, and in favor of the enormous evil of intemperance. We can say that we belong to the temperance army—that we have an association, and have signed a pledge which covers the same ground as theirs, and more.

But I find by canvassing with the pledge that this step is actually needed for the benefit of our own people, health reformers as we are. One would think that all of us who have learned of the properties of tea and coffee, as set forth in our tract on the subject, and also of the poisonous ingredients used in their preparation, and besides this the testimony of the Spirit, which is always in harmony with all true science, would have abandoned their use altogether. Those who have been ten, fifteen, or twenty years in the truth should certainly be free from these hurtful habits. But I find to my sorrow that some who could have left these habits with ease years ago, have continued to sip against light, until now these are their masters.

Every one of us who has had the light on these subjects for so many years, ought to be ready to sign the teetotal pledge and keep it. It will be for our spiritual good. I think I may safely say that those who have walked nearest to the light we have had on these principles, enjoy the most of the Spirit and blessing of God, and consequently are the most zealous workers in the cause of God. As I said at first, neglect of known duty and indulgence in a wrong course harden the heart, sear the conscience, blunt the sensibilities to right and wrong, and leave us in the dark.

Now let us begin anew to live out the faith, and walk in the light that God in great mercy has given us. It is a matter of great rejoicing to hear of the noble stand our people have been taking in this reform in our Western camp-meetings. Let the good work go on. It will prove successful. Every advance step which our leading brethren have taken in this cause has proved a success. Not a step has to be retraced. The work is onward. Drawing back is toward perdition; but believing and acting is for the salvation of the soul. If we press forward in the work, and walk up to the light, we shall see cause of devout thanksgiving to God for this movement in the health and temperance cause. Let us as one man press into the work, and thus benefit others all in our power, while we prepare ourselves for the finishing touch of immortality soon to be received by all the faithful. R. F. COTTRELL.