Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8 - Ellen G. White

perverted ideas, are woven into the texture of the
character.
Parties for frivolous, worldly pleasure,
gatherings for eating, drinking, and singing, are
inspired by a spirit that is from beneath. They are
an oblation to Satan. The exhibitions in the bicycle
craze are an offense to God. His wrath is kindled
against those who do such things. In these
gratifications the mind becomes besotted, even as
in liquor drinking. The door is opened to vulgar
associations. The thoughts, allowed to run in a low
channel, soon pervert all the powers of the being.
Like Israel of old, the pleasure lovers eat and drink,
and rise up to play. There is mirth and carousing,
hilarity and glee. In all this the youth follow the
example of the authors of the books placed in their
hands for study. The greatest evil of it all is the
permanent effect that these things have upon the
character.
Those who take the lead in these things bring
upon the cause a stain not easily effaced. They
wound their own souls, and through their lifetime
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