Counsels on Health - Ellen G. White

of men fallen by nature and corrupted by sin. The
record of his noble, self-denying life is an
encouragement to our common humanity. From it
we may gather strength to nobly resist temptation,
and firmly, and in the grace of meekness, stand for
the right under the severest trial.
Daniel’s Experience
Daniel might have found a plausible excuse to
depart from his strictly temperate habits; but the
approbation of God was dearer to him than the
favor of the most powerful earthly potentate—
dearer even than life itself. Having by his courteous
conduct obtained favor with Melzar, the officer in
charge of the Hebrew youth, Daniel made a request
that they might not eat of the king’s meat or drink
of his wine. Melzar feared that should he comply
with this request, he might incur the displeasure of
the king and thus endanger his own life. Like many
at the present day, he thought that an abstemious
diet would render these youth pale and sickly in
appearance and deficient in muscular strength,
while the luxurious food from the king’s table
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