Mind, Character, and Personality Vol. 2 - Second Advent Revival

(1903). {2MCP 388.2}
Indulgence Blunts Nobler Sentiments of Mind.--The indulgence of appetite in
overeating is gluttony. The great variety of foods often taken at one meal is enough to
create a disordered stomach and a disordered temper. Therefore God requires of every
human being cooperation with Him, that none may go beyond his proper boundary in
overeating or in partaking of improper articles of food. This indulgence strengthens the
animal propensities and blunts the nobler sentiments of the mind. The whole being is
degraded, and the human agent becomes the slave of appetite, by pampering and
indulging his own groveling sensual passions.--MS 113, 1898.
389 {2MCP 388.3}
Overeating Produced Forgetfulness and Loss of Memory (counsel to a
gourmand).--You are a gourmand when at the table. This is one great cause of your
forgetfulness and loss of memory. You say things which I know you have said, and then
turn square about and say that you said something entirely different. I knew this, but
passed it over as the sure result of overeating. Of what use would it be to speak about
it? It would not cure the evil.--Lt 17, 1895. (CD 138.) {2MCP 389.1}
Overeating Blunts the Emotions. [SEE COUNSELS ON DIET AND FOODS,
"OVEREATING," PP. 131-142.]--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. Strict temperance in eating and drinking is highly essential for the
healthy preservation and vigorous exercise of all the functions of the body. {2MCP 389.2}
Strictly temperate habits, combined with exercise of the muscles as well as of the
mind, will preserve both mental and physical vigor and give power of endurance to
those engaged in the ministry, to editors, and to all others whose habits are sedentary.
As a people, with all our profession of health reform, we eat too much. Indulgence of
appetite is the greatest cause of physical and mental debility, and lies at the foundation
of feebleness, which is apparent everywhere.--3T 487 (1875). {2MCP 389.3}
Restrict the Varieties of Food.--We must care for the digestive organs and not
force upon them a great variety of food. He who gorges himself with many kinds of food
at a meal is doing himself injury. It is more important that we eat that which will agree
with us than that we taste of every dish that may be placed before us. There is no door
in our stomach by which we can look in and see what is going on; so we must use our
mind, and reason from cause to effect. If you feel all wrought up,
390
and everything seems to go wrong, perhaps it is because you are suffering the
consequences of eating a great variety of food.--MS 41, 1908. (CD 111, 112.) {2MCP
389.4}
God's Plan for Us.--God desires us, by strict temperance, to keep the mind clear
and keen that we may be able to distinguish between the sacred and the common. We