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White Ribbon, Volume 8, Issue 90, 1 November 1902, Page 10

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A SANCTIFIED BODY. By General Booth. My Dear Comrades, — You will remember that last week I wrote you about the great value of your health, your responsibility for preservation, and the manner in which that duty should be discharged. This week I want to show you more particularly what the sanctification of the body means, or, rather, iiow it may be carried out. 1. A man who has sanctified his body will not put into it such injurious, poisonous things as intoxicating drinks of any character, or in any quantity. He won’t do this, not only because he is a Soldier of Salvation, but becau-e he won’t defile his body with such accursed things, or run the risk of creating an appetite which might make him a slave of the poisonous liquor, and so lead him to A Drunkard’s Grave, or make him an example likely to involve others »n the same deadly fate. 2. A man who has sanctified his body will be very unlikely to put into it tobacco in any form, opiates of any de - scription, or any other evil things of the same class. 3. The man who truly sanctifies lib body will, so far as he has the opportunity, eat wholesome, nourishing food.

lie must judge ot this foi himself. Some things that aic good for one man will be bad for another. “ One man’s food,” says the old adage, “ is another man’s poison.” Animal Food not Necessary. Many of hose who have studied the question, and who have had much experience on the subject, say that animal food of every description is not only unnecessary to the well being of the body, hut positively injurious to it. They say that the llesh of animals inflames the blood, excites the passions, breeds disease, enervates the whole system, and very often shortens life. These abstainers from butcher’s meat say, “ Look at us ; we have better health, have less weariness and headaches, and can do more work, and do it easier than we could when we were desh-eaters.” I don’t say that this would be so with everyone, but I do think that the experience of these people is worth considering, and that their simple plan of living is worth experimenting upon. Some of the strongest, healthiest, wisest, and longest-lived people the world has known have supported themselves, like Daniel and his companions, simply on grains, and fruit, and milk. I have abstained from all tdesli meat for nearly four years, at different periods of my life, and rather than being weaker or worse for it have been stronger and better. It is a great mercy, for which we cannot be too thankful, that the most wholesome and strengthening foods are the most easily obtained and the least costly. No diet can be more nourishing than good bread, oatmeal, rye, milk, cheese, vegetables, and fruit. Milk alone contains all the properties necessary to build up and sustain the human

frame in full vigour. If the different classes of food I have named, or any of then, are within your reach in any reasonable quantity, you are all right if you never see another mutton chop in this world, and I am quite sure you wil 1 get none in the next. Eat Carefully. 4. To promote health you should eat carefully. Give a reasonable time to the business. In nothing will the proverb, “ Make haste slowly, prove more useful, or much more applicable. Chew your food thoroughly. our teeth are given you to tear it to pieces, and to grind it to pulp, before swallowing it. Use them tor that purpose. Thousands of people ruin their digestion and destroy their health by bolting instead of masticating their food. Dry food is, as a rule, better than soft, because it cannot be so easily swallowed until it has been properly dealt with by the teeth. Drink as little as you can while eating. Tea, hot or cold, has always a bid effect when taken at the same time or directly after meals consisting of soups, meat, or the like. Taken under such condi’tions it is very near to poison. 5. If you want to keep your body in health eat in moderate quantities. 1 he most mistaken notions prevail with respect to the amount of food required for the maintenance of health and strength. Multitudes of people overload their poor stomachs two or three times every day of their lives, and thereby hurry themselves to the grave Don’t Eat 100 Much. You should bear in mind that it is not wnat you eat, but wha, you digest, that benefits you. Therefore, if you take more food than is necessary, your

poor system has to labour to get rid of the surplus, giving you all sorts of aches and pains and depressions while doing so. Fasting is a useful practice when in health, and a most beneficial usage when out of health. I have known any number of people who have cured themselves of all sorts of maladies by cutting off half, or even three-fourths, of their usual supply of food, while some have not only cured the diseases from which they have suffered, but prolonged their lives to a remarkable period. I here is a well-known instance of an Italian gentleman, who was given up to die when about fifty, but who, through reducing himself to two meals a day, of the most limited quantity, lived to be over 100 years of age. 6. If you would keep your body in health, eat at regular intervals. Let the stomach get properly empty before you crowd any further supplies into it. Beware of Drugs. 7. There is, of course, any quantity more of useful advice, but 1 have already offered you more, I fear, than will be acted upon. Otherwise I might say, “ Beware of drugs.” Ihe less of them the better. Find out how much sleep your body requires, and get it if you can, but no more. Fake sufficient exercise, and keep your body washed with pure water, as the Apostle recommends. Open your windows to let in the fresh air day and night. Keep a conscience void of offence, and trust in God for h*s guidance and preserving mercy every hour you live, every step you take, and in everything you do. And he sure and use the health and strength God gives you in promoting His glory, and saving the souls of men.—From the Field Officer.