God would have his people clearly understand
that they will be visited according to their obedience or transgression.
Wickedness and disease have increased with every successive generation. The
land has labored under the curse which man has brought upon it because of
continued disobedience. "The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world
languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The
earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have
transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are
desolate." Many marvel that the human race have so degenerated,
physically, mentally, and morally. They do not understand that it is the
violation of God's constitution and laws, and the violation of the laws of
health, that has produced this sad degeneracy. The transgression of God's
commandments has caused his prospering hand to be removed.
Intemperance in eating and in drinking, and the indulgence of base
passions have benumbed the fine sensibilities, so that sacred things have been
placed upon a level with common things. Nadab and Abihu drank too freely of
wine, and the result was, they used common fire instead of sacred, and were
destroyed for thus dishonoring God. When appetite is left to control reason,
sacred things are not discerned. God expressly commanded the children of Israel
not to eat swine's flesh. The heathen used this meat as an article of food. God
prohibited the Hebrews the use of swine's flesh because it was hurtful. It
would fill the system with humors, and in that warm climate often produced
leprosy. Its influence upon the system in that climate was far more injurious
than in a colder climate. But God never designed the swine to be eaten under
any circumstances. Swine were useful. In a fruitful country, where there was
much to decay upon the ground, which would poison the atmosphere, herds of
swine were permitted to run free, and devoured the decaying substances, which
was a means of preserving health. Other animals were forbidden to be eaten by
the Israelites, because they were not the best articles of food
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