Signs of the Times, Book 1 - Ellen G. White

The love of tobacco is a warring lust. Means are thereby squandered that
would aid in the good work of clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and
sending the truth to poor souls out of Christ. What a record will appear when
the accounts of life are balanced in the book of God! It will then appear that
vast sums of money have been expended for tobacco and alcoholic liquors!
For what? To ensure health and prolong life? Oh, no! To aid in the perfection
of Christian character and a fitness for the society of holy angels? Oh, no!
But to minister to a depraved, unnatural appetite for that which poisons and
kills not only the user but those to whom he transmits his legacy of disease
and imbecility. God does not propose to work a miracle to preserve our
health and strength which we are daily injuring by vice and habits of hurtful
indulgence.
Food prepared with condiments and spices inflames the stomach,
corrupts the blood and paves the way to stronger stimulants. It induces
nervous debility, impatience and lack of self-control. Tobacco and the winecup
follow.
We have seen that the victories gained by the "Temperance Crusade" are
not often permanent. In those places where the excitement ran highest and
apparently the most was accomplished in closing liquor saloons and
reclaiming inebriates, after the lapse of a few months, intemperance
prevailed to a greater extent than before the effort to suppress it was made.
The reason of this is evident. The work is not deep and thorough. The
axe is not laid at the root of the tree. The roots of intemperance lie deeper
than mere liquor drinking. In order to make the temperance movement a
success, the work of reform must begin at our tables. Eating flesh-meat does
not increase physical, mental, or moral health, but, on the contrary,
frequently causes diseases of a very aggravating character. The use of highly
seasoned meats creates an appetite for stronger stimulants such as tobacco
and liquor.
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