Te 91
(Temperance 91)
John separated himself from his friends, and from the luxuries of life, dwelling alone in the wilderness, and subsisting upon a purely vegetable diet. The simplicity of his dress—a garment woven of camel’s hair—was a rebuke to the extravagance and display of the people of his generation, especially of the Jewish priests. His diet also, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the gluttony that everywhere prevailed. (Te 91.1) MC VC
The work of John was foretold by the prophet Malachi: “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. 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 the last days, to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people, to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ. And the same principles of temperance which John practiced should be observed by those who in our day are to warn the world of the coming of the Son of man. (Te 91.2) MC VC
God has made man in His own image, and He expects man to preserve unimpaired the powers that have been imparted to him for the Creator’s service. Then should we not heed His admonitions, and seek to preserve every power in the best condition to serve Him? The very best we can give to God is feeble enough. (Te 91.3) MC VC
Why is there so much misery in the world today? Is it because God loves to see His creatures suffer?—Oh, no! It is because men have become weakened by immoral practices. We mourn over Adam’s transgression, and seem to think that our first parents showed great weakness in yielding to temptation; but if Adam’s transgression were the only evil we had to meet, the condition of the world would be much better than it is. There has been a succession of falls since Adam’s day.—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 37-39. (Te 91.4) MC VC