The body which God intended for a
"house beautiful" for the soul, and a temple holy unto Himself,
is often reduced to a sty, where the imprisoned soul wallows in
lusts and passions, and degrades itself below the level of
beasts. But this baptism gives a man power over his body.
God has given to man such desires and passions as are necessary
to secure his continued existence, and not one is in itself evil,
but good and only good; and when controlled and used, but not
abused, will help to develop and maintain the purest and highest
manhood. The appetites for food and drink are necessary to life.
Another desire is intended to secure the continuance of the human
race. And so all the desires and appetites of the body have
useful ends, and were given to us in love by our Heavenly Father
for high and essential purposes, and are necessary to us as human
beings.
But the soul, cut off from fellowship with God, by sin, seeks
satisfaction in sensual excesses, and the unlawful gratification
of these appetites, and so sinks to depths of degradation to
which no beast ever falls. Thus man becomes a slave; swollen and
raging passion takes the place of innocent appetites and desires.
Now, when the Holy Spirit enters the heart and sanctifies the
soul, He does not destroy these desires, but He purifies and
regulates them. He reinforces the soul with the fear and love of
God, and gives it power, complete power, over the fleshly
appetites.
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