THE POWER OF APPETITE

GOD designed that the appetite should be man’s servant. When controlled by the moral and intellectual powers, it is one of God’s blessed gifts; but when it becomes master, it is a debasing tyrant, crushing out of man that which is noble and God-like.BHY 193.1

We go back in imagination over long ages, until we stand amid the glories of Eden before sin entered, and there we meet the painful fact that one of the weakest points in the character of Adam and Eve, while in all the perfection of manhood and womanhood, was the appetite. Their failure to exercise self-control upon this point — together with their curiosity and ambition — led to their fall. As the consequent moral darkness and downward tendency increased with each successive generation, the reign of appetite became more debasing and supreme. If appetite could move our first parents to an act of base disobedience, what must be its power over men and women of the nineteenth century, in whose physical, mental, and moral nature the taint of the fall still exists, with all the aggravations which have been acquired since Adam and Eve passed out of the gate of Paradise?BHY 193.2

It is true that among the patriarchs and prophets were men who walked with God, and were the masters, not the slaves, of appetite, — like Daniel and his friends, who refused to defile themselves with the king’s meat and wine. The apostles treat of Christian temperance in a most pointed manner. The apostle Paul says that “every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things,” and then adds, by way of application to the Christian life, “I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” ^{11 Corinthians 9:25, 27.}BHY 193.3

We live in an age remarkable for Bibles, the Sacred Scriptures now being read in two hundred and fifty-two languages and dialects; and yet there has probably never been a time when the people of Christian lands have been more completely under the rule of appetite. The gospel is preached everywhere. The present is said to be an age of wonderful light and gospel liberty; but unfortunately, the gospel as too often preached in our time hardly touches the appetites and passions of men. And why should it, when so many of the teachers of religion do not feel called upon to renounce wine and tobacco or to restrain appetite?BHY 194.1

Many temperance men, with the waning cause of temperance as it relates to intoxicating drinks on their hands, are feeling that but little can be done in reforming drunkards, or in restraining young men from becoming such, while they indulge in the use of tobacco. The only way to cure men of the love of whisky is to restore the appetite to its natural state. And this can never be done while the common and free use of tobacco, tea, and coffee is continued. The only way to make real temperance men, is to teach the people to abandon all unnatural habits, and to use only those things which God designed for the use of man, and these in their natural state, as far as possible.BHY 194.2

One has only to reflect a moment in order to be overwhelmed with astonishment at the unnatural, expensive, debasing habit of tobacco-using. We need not say that it is a filthy habit. If tobacco-chewers would only swallow that which is so sweet in their mouths, instead of spitting it out to the annoyance of cleaner people, their path would be less offensive; but instead they eject on the street, in public places, and on the cars, that which is extremely odious to all who are not initiated in the disgusting habit.BHY 194.3

The habit is unnatural. Not one lad in a thousand liked tobacco when he first tasted it. And more than this, most boys suffer a terrible sickness, and pass a severe struggle, in taking their first lesson in tobacco-using. Then why do they form a habit so unnatural and disgusting? But one answer can be given: The habit is made respectable by judges, lawyers, ministers, doctors, and men of all ranks, and their influence is pressing our dear boys, with few exceptions, into this terrible vice. And these men, especially those who profess to be Christ’s ambassadors, will have to answer for the result of their influence in the final settlement of the Judgment.BHY 195.1

Nine hundred and ninety-nine of every one thousand tobacco inebriates would be glad to rid themselves of the habit; but they have become slaves to appetite, and have not the moral courage to persevere in that self-denial, and pass through that suffering, necessary to master the vice. We are not writing the condition of the few only. It is a painful fact that a majority of the men of our time have surrendered to the debasing rule of the appetite for tobacco.BHY 195.2

“I know it is a filthy, expensive, and hurtful practice,” said a minister, “and I would give three hundred dollars to be rid of tobacco; but the habit is formed, and I cannot overcome it.” Officers were not wanting in our armies, during the late American war, who could lead their men into the hottest fight without the quiver of a muscle, and yet had not courage enough to break off the habit of tobacco-using. It is the mind that makes the man. Just in proportion as appetite and passion grow strong by excessive indulgence, the intellectual and moral powers are enfeebled. And in the same proportion as the moral and intellectual are strengthened by self-denial, healthy conditions are restored, morbid appetite is dethroned, and the chains fall off from the enslaved victim.BHY 195.3

The restraints of the Sacred Scriptures, and the self-denial especially taught therein, are wanted to save men from the controlling power of appetite. The sentiments uttered by Christ and his apostles upon this subject are the purest of the pure:—BHY 195.4

“If any man will come after me, let him deny himself.” — Jesus.BHY 196.1

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” — Paul.BHY 196.2

“Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” — Peter.BHY 196.3