A Safe Calculation by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Sep 23, 1875

A Safe Calculation.

By James White

MANY say they cannot make a living and keep the Sabbath; they cannot afford to lose the time. On this a mechanic in Hollister, Cal., said that he knew many men who managed to live, who spent half their wages at the saloons. Some of them spend in one night the wages of three or four days. Said he, 'They who work six days, and spend half their wages at the saloons do not as well as they who work five days and save all their wages for the support of their families.'

How plain it is, and they who embrace this message thoroughly, not only save their time and wages by avoiding many of the temptations into which so many others fall, but by discarding tobacco, tea, coffee, and such useless and injurious articles, they save enough to supply many of the necessaries of life, and do for the cause of God beside. A sister in one of the States sent us $50.00 to aid the cause, and in her letter said it was only what she had saved on tea and coffee expenses during the year preceding! Many professors of religion would scarcely be able to sleep in peace if they should give as much for religious purposes as their tobacco costs them! Are these followers of Christ? Is the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost given unto them? Are they proving their discipleship by cross-bearing and self-denial? 'Be not deceived; God is not mocked.'

J. H. W.