The following is extracted from World's Last Chance. It tackles my most advocated sector - health. It discusses the existence of diseases based on biblical genesis.
Diseases and Its Causes
Since the fall in Eden,
the race has been degenerating. Deformity, imbecility, disease, and
human suffering have been pressing heavier and heavier upon each
successive generation, and yet the masses are asleep as to the real
causes. They do not consider that they themselves are guilty, in a great
measure, for this deplorable state of things. They generally charge
their sufferings upon Providence, and regard . . . [Yahuwah] as the
author of their woes. But it is intemperance, to a greater or
less degree, that lies at the foundation of all this suffering.
Eve was intemperate in
her desires when she put forth her hand to take of the fruit-forbidden
tree. Self-gratification has reigned almost supreme in the
hearts of men and women since the fall. Especially has the
appetite been indulged, and they have been controlled by it, instead of
by reason. For the sake of gratifying the taste, Eve
transgressed the command of . . . [Yahuwah]. He had given her
everything her wants required, yet she was not satisfied. Ever since,
her fallen sons and daughters have followed the desires of their eyes
and of their taste. They have, like Eve, disregarded the prohibitions . .
. [Yahuwah] has made, and have followed in a course of disobedience,
and, like Eve, have flattered themselves that the consequence would not
be as fearful as had been apprehended.
Man has
disregarded the laws of his being, and disease has been steadily
increasing. The cause has been followed by the effect. He has
not been satisfied with food which was the most healthful; but has
gratified the taste even at the expense of health.
. . . [Yahuwah]
has established the laws of our being. If we violate these laws, we
must, sooner or later, pay the penalty. The laws of our being can not be
more successfully violated than by crowding upon the stomach
unhealthful food, because craved by a morbid appetite. To eat
to excess, of even simple food, will eventually break down the digestive
organs; but to eat too great an amount of food, and that unwholesome,
and the evil is greatly increased. The constitution must become
impaired.
The human
family have been growing more and more self-indulgent, until health has
been most successfully sacrificed upon the altar of lustful appetite.
The inhabitants of the old world were intemperate in eating and
drinking. They would have flesh-meats, although . . . [Yahuwah] had
given them no permission to eat animal food. They ate and drank
to excess, and their depraved appetites knew no bounds. They gave
themselves up to abominable idolatry. They became violent and ferocious,
and so corrupt that . . . [Yahuwah] could bear with them no longer.
Their cup of iniquity was full, and . . . [Yahuwah] cleansed the earth
of its moral pollution by a flood. As men multiplied upon the face of
the earth after the flood, they forgot . . . [Yahuwah], and corrupted
their ways before him. Intemperance in every form increased to a great
extent.
The Lord . . .
[Yahuwah] brought his people out of Egypt in a victorious manner. He
led them through the wilderness to prove them and try them. He
repeatedly manifested his miraculous power in their deliverances from
their enemies. He promised to take them to himself as his peculiar
treasure if they would obey his voice and keep his commandments. He
did not forbid them to eat the flesh of animals, but withheld it from
them in great measure. He provided them food which was the most
healthful. He rained their bread from heaven, and gave them purest
water from the flinty rock. He made a covenant with them: if they would
obey him in all things, he would preserve them from disease.
But the Hebrews
were not satisfied. They despised the food given them from heaven, and
wished themselves back in Egypt, where they could sit by the flesh-pots.
They preferred slavery, and even death, rather than to be deprived of
meat. . . . [Yahuwah], in his anger, gave them flesh to gratify their
lustful appetites, and great numbers of them died while eating the meat
for which they had lusted.
Nadab and Abihu
were slain by the fire of . . . [Yahuwah]'s wrath for their intemperance
in the use of wine. . . . [Yahuwah] would have his people
understand that they will be visited according to their obedience or
transgressions.
Crime and disease have increased with every successive generation. Intemperance in eating and drinking, and
the indulgence of the baser passions, have benumbed the nobler
faculties. Appetite, to an alarming extent, has controlled
reason.
The human family
have indulged an increasing desire for rich food, until it has become a
fashion to crowd all the delicacies possible into the stomach.
Especially at parties of pleasure is the appetite indulged with but
little restraint. Rich dinners and late suppers are partaken of,
consisting of highly seasoned meats, with rich gravies, rich cakes,
pies, ice-cream, etc.
Professed Christians
generally take the lead in these fashionable gatherings. Large sums of
money are sacrificed to the gods of fashion and appetite, in preparing
feasts of health-destroying dainties to tempt the appetite, that through
this channel something may be raised for religious purposes. Thus
ministers and professed Christians have acted their part and exerted
their influence, by precept and example, in indulging intemperance in
eating, and in leading the people to health-destroying gluttony. Instead
of appealing to man's reason, to his benevolence, his humanity, his
nobler faculties, the most successful appeal that can be made is to the
appetite.
The gratification of the
appetite will induce men to give when otherwise they would do nothing.
What a sad picture for Christians! With such sacrifice is . . .
[Yahuwah] well pleased? How much more acceptable to him was the widow's
mite! Such as follow her example from the heart will have well done. To
have the blessing of Heaven attend the sacrifice thus made, can make
the simplest offering of the highest value.
