- Preface
- Preface to the second edition
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- The Wisdom of God's Works
- Govern the Body
- Adherence to a Simple Diet
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- Develop Ability
- Temperance in All Things
- The World No Criterion
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- Deep Breathing
- Superstitions Concerning Night Air
- The Influence of Fresh Air
- Scrupulous Sanitation
- Use Simple Food
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- Nonuse of Flesh Meats
- Avoid Gluttony
- Lessons From the Experience of John the Baptist
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- A Deceitful Poison
- Abstinence From Narcotics
- Self-Denial and Prayer
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- Healthful Dress
- The Power of the Will
- Suitable Employment
- Control the Imagination
- Moderation in Work
- Temperance in Labor
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- Frequent Bathing
- How to Preserve Our Sensibilities
- To a Brother
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- Self-Development a Duty
- Temptation Through Appetite
- Appetite Ruled Antediluvians
- Intemperance After the Flood
- Esau's Experience
- Israel Desired the Fleshpots of Egypt
- Intemperance and Crime
- Our Youth Lack Self-Control
- Responsibility of Parents
- Evils of Meat Eating
- Proper Preparation of Food a Duty
- Wrong Eating Destroys Health
- Too Frequent Eating a Cause of Dyspepsia
- Evils to be Avoided
- Eat Slowly
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- Partakers of the Divine Nature
- Result of Disregarding Light
- Faithfulness to the Laws of Health
- Healthful Cooking
- Learn to Cook
- A Most Essential Accomplishment
- Unwholesome Bread
- Changing the Diet
- A Harmful Combination
- Unpalatable Food
- An Impoverished Diet
- Extremes in Diet
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- Overworked Mothers
- Gluttony a Sin
- Avoid False Standards
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- The Example of Christ
- Nature a Lesson Book
- In the Country
- The Source of Healing
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- Exercise, Air, and Sunlight
- The Original Plan
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- Simpler Methods
- A Proper Balance of Physical and Mental Labor
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- Health and Efficiency
- Periods of Relaxation
- Sunlight in the Home
- Prohibited Amusements
- Exercise as a Restorer
- Walking for Exercise
- The Evils of Inactivity
- Open the Windows of the Soul
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- The Church Qualified for Service
- Living Waters for Thirsty Souls
- Sanitariums and Gospel Work
- Plants Needed in Many Places
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- Agricultural Advantages
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- Mammoth Sanitariums Not a Necessity
- Amusements in Our Sanitariums
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- Denominational Views Not to Be Urged Upon Patients
- For All Sects and Classes
- Medical Treatment, Right Living, and Prayer
- Centers of Influence and Training
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- Wholesome Substitutes
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- The Secret of Success
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- Health Reform at the Sanitarium
- Results of Faithful Effort
- Maintain a High Standard
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- Not Among the Wealthy
- Not for Pleasure Seekers
- City Conditions
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- Advantages of Wooden Structures
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- Loyalty to Our Institutions
- The Sanitarium as a Missionary Field
- Adherence to Principle
- To the Glory of God
- The Chaplain and His Work
- Hold the Truth in Its Purity
- For the Welfare of Others
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- Tact Essential
- Dealing With Sentimentalism
- The Ennobling Power of Pure Thoughts
- Criticizing and Faultfinding
- Results of Fostered Sin
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- Co-operation Between Schools and Sanitariums
- Equity in the Matter of Wages
- Economical From Principle
- Compensation
- No Exorbitant Salaries
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- Sanitarium Workers
- Recognition of Honest Labor
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- Simplicity and Economy
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- Ready for Every Good Work
- Bearing Witness to the Truth
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- Patience and Sympathy
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- Physicians to Conserve Their Strength
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- Each One in His Place
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- Dangers in Success
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- Qualifications Needed
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- Faith and Works
- Gratitude for Health
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- Obedience and Happiness
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- House-to-House Work
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- Efficiency Depends Upon Vigor
- Integrity Among Workers
- Steadfastness
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- Waves of Influence
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- In Our Schools
- A Lack of Economy
- Our Influence
- Need of Opportunity for Christian Culture
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- Gospel Workers to Teach Health Reform
- The Temperance Reform
- At the Camp Meetings
- A Good Work Made Difficult
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- Teach With Wisdom
- The Right Exercise of the Will
- Sign the Pledge
- Premature Tests
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- Sanitariums Needed in Washington and Other Places
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- Indifference and Unbelief
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- The Ruin Wrought by Satan
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- The Invitation
- Objects Lessons in Health Reform
- Why Conduct Sanitariums?
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- An Illustration
- The Breadth of the Work
- Clear New Ground
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- Rebellion Against Health Reform
- Not a Separate Work
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- In Faith and Humility
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- A Means of Overcoming Prejudice
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- The Ministry and Medical Work
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- Lights Amid Darkness
- A Lesson From Solomon's Fall
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- The Price of Health
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- Extremes in Dress
- Immodest Dresses
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- The Only Safety
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- An Advance Step
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- The Need of Consecration
- Total Abstinence
Lessons From the Experience of John the Baptist
[Testimonies for the Church 3:61-64 (1871).]
For years the Lord has been calling the attention of His people to health reform. This is one of the great branches of the work of preparation for the coming of the Son of man.CH 72.1
John the Baptist went forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way of the Lord and to turn the people to the wisdom of the just. He was a representative of those living in these last days, to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ. John was a reformer. The angel Gabriel, direct from heaven, gave a discourse upon health reform to the father and mother of John. He said that he should not drink wine or strong drink, and that he should be filled with the Holy Ghost from his birth.CH 72.2
John separated himself from friends, and from the luxuries of life. The simplicity of his dress, a garment woven of camel's hair, was a standing rebuke to the extravagance and display of the Jewish priests, and of the people generally. His diet, purely vegetable, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the indulgence of appetite, and the gluttony that everywhere prevailed.CH 72.3
The prophet Malachi declares, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers.” Malachi 4:5, 6. Here the prophet describes the character of the work. Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ, are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ's first advent. The great subject of reform is to be agitated, and the public mind is to be stirred. Temperance in all things is to be connected with the message, to turn the people of God from their idolatry, their gluttony, and their extravagance in dress and other things. The self-denial, humility, and temperance required of the righteous, whom God especially leads and blesses, is to be presented to the people in contrast to the extravagant, health-destroying habits of those who live in this degenerate age.CH 72.4
God has shown that health reform is as closely connected with the third angel's message as the hand is with the body. There is nowhere to be found so great a cause of physical and moral degeneracy as a neglect of this important subject. Those who indulge appetite and passion and close their eyes to the light for fear they will see sinful indulgences which they are unwilling to forsake, are guilty before God. Whoever turns from the light in one instance hardens his heart to disregard the light upon other matters. Whoever violates moral obligations in the matter of eating and dressing, prepares the way to violate the claims of God in regard to eternal interests.CH 73.1
Our bodies are not our own. God has claims upon us to take care of the habitation He has given us, that we may present our bodies to Him a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable. Our bodies belong to Him who made them, and we are in duty bound to become intelligent in regard to the best means of preserving them from decay. If we enfeeble the body by self-gratification, by indulging the appetite, and by dressing in accordance with health-destroying fashions, in order to be in harmony with the world, we become enemies of God....CH 73.2
Providence has been leading the people of God out from the extravagant habits of the world, away from the indulgence of appetite and passion, to take their stand upon the platform of self-denial and temperance in all things. The people whom God is leading will be peculiar. They will not be like the world. But if they follow the leadings of God, they will accomplish His purposes, and will yield their will to His will. Christ will dwell in the heart. The temple of God will be holy. Your body, says the apostle, is the temple of the Holy Ghost. God does not require His children to deny themselves to the injury of physical strength. He requires them to obey natural law, to preserve physical health. Nature's path is the road He marks out, and it is broad enough for any Christian. God has, with a lavish hand, provided us with rich and varied bounties for our sustenance and enjoyment. But in order for us to enjoy the natural appetite, which will preserve health and prolong life, He restricts the appetite. He says, Beware; restrain, deny, unnatural appetite. If we create a perverted appetite, we violate the laws of our being, and assume the responsibility of abusing our bodies and of bringing disease upon ourselves....CH 74.1
Self-denial is essential to genuine religion. Those who have not learned to deny themselves are destitute of vital, practical godliness. We cannot expect anything else than that the claims of religion will come in contact with the natural affections and worldly interests. There is work for everyone in the vineyard of the Lord.CH 74.2