Bible Readings for the Home Circle Part 214

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore _glorify G.o.d in __ your body_, and in your spirit, which are G.o.d's." 1 Cor. 6:20.

7. What is the body of the believer said to be?

"What? know ye not that _your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost_ which is in you, which ye have of G.o.d, and ye are not your own?" Verse 19.

8. What will G.o.d do to those who defile this temple?

"If any man defile the temple of G.o.d, _him shall G.o.d destroy_; for the temple of G.o.d is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:17.

9. What example did Daniel set in this matter?

"But Daniel purposed in his heart _that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank_." Dan.

1:8.

10. With what food did he ask to be provided?

"Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and _let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink_." Verse 12.

11. What was the original diet prescribed for man?

"And G.o.d said, Behold, I have given you _every herb bearing seed_, which is upon the face of all the earth, and _every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed_; to you it shall be for meat." Gen. 1:29.

12. Why did the Lord restrict the Hebrews in their diet?

"For _thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy G.o.d, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself_, above all the nations that are upon the earth. Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing." Deut.

14:2, 3.

NOTE.-Both mind and body are affected by the food we eat.

13. What effect does cheerfulness have upon the health?

"A merry heart _doeth good_ like a medicine." Prov. 17:22.

14. How did the Saviour provide rest for His disciples?

"And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and _rest awhile_." Mark 6:31.

15. How are we exhorted to present our bodies to G.o.d?

"I beseech you ... that ye _present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G.o.d_." Rom. 12:1.

16. What high purpose should control our habits of life?

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, _do all to the glory of G.o.d_." 1 Cor. 10:31.

Christian Temperance

[Ill.u.s.tration.]

Signing The Pledge. "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Dan. 1:8.

1. Concerning what did Paul reason before Felix?

"He reasoned of righteousness, _temperance_, and judgment to come." Acts 24:25.

NOTE.-Temperance means habitual moderation and control in the indulgence of the appet.i.tes and pa.s.sions; in other words, self-control.

2. Of what is temperance a fruit?

"But _the fruit of the Spirit_ is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, _temperance_." Gal. 5:22, 23.

NOTE.-"Temperance puts wood on the fire, meal in the barrel, flour in the tub, money in the purse, credit in the country, contentment in the house, clothes on the back, and vigor in the body."-_Benjamin Franklin._

3. Where in Christian growth and experience is temperance placed by the apostle Peter?

"Add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge _temperance_; and to temperance patience; and to patience G.o.dliness; and to G.o.dliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity." 2 Peter 1:5-7. See page 542.

NOTE.-Temperance is rightly placed here as to order. Knowledge is a prerequisite to temperance, and temperance to patience. It is very difficult for an intemperate person to be patient.

4. What is said of those who strive for the mastery?

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is _temperate in all things_." 1 Cor. 9:25.

5. In running the Christian race, what did Paul say he did?

"But _I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection_: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Verse 27.

6. Why are kings and rulers admonished to be temperate?

"It is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: lest they drink, and _forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted_." Prov. 31:4, 5.

7. Why were priests forbidden to use intoxicating drink while engaged in the sanctuary service?

"And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle: ...