Besides the religious nature of this institution, it seems to have been partly of a civil and prudential use. The sobriety and temperance which the Nazarites were obliged to observe were very conducive to health. Accordingly, they were celebrated for their fair and ruddy complexion; being said to be both whiter than milk and more ruddy than rubies ("Her Nazaritesª were purerª° than snow,ª¹ they were whiterª° than milk,ª¹ they were more ruddyª° in bodyª than rubies,ª¹ their polishingª [was] of sapphire:ª" {Lam 4:7}); the sure signs of a sound and healthy constitution. It may here be observed, that when God intended to raise up Samson, by his strength of body, to scourge the enemies of Israel, he ordered, that from his infancy he should drink no wine, but live by the rule of the Nazarites, because that would greatly contribute to make him strong and healthy; intending, after nature had done her utmost to form this extraordinary instrument of his providence, to supply her defect by his own supernatural power. See Jenning's Jewish Antiquities, B. I. c. 8. "Do not¹ drinkª° wineª nor strong drink,ª thou,¹ nor thy sonsª with¹ thee, when ye goª° into¹ the tabernacleª of the congregation,ª lest¹ ye die:ª° [it shall be] a statuteª for everª throughout your generations:ª" {Lev 10:9} + "She may not¹ eatª° of any¹¹ [thing] that¹ comethª° of the vine,ª¹ neither¹ let her drinkª° wineª or strong drink,ª nor¹ eatª° any¹ uncleanª [thing]: all¹ that¹ I commandedª° her let her observe.ª°" {Jdg 13:14} + "[It is] not¹ for kings,ª O Lemuel,ª [it is] not¹ for kingsª to drinkª° wine;ª nor¹ for²°² princesª° strong drink:ª ... Lest¹ they drink,ª° and forgetª° the law,ª° and pervertª° the judgmentª of any¹ of the afflicted.ªª" {Prv 31:4-5} + "But they said,ª° We will drinkª° no¹ wine:ª for¹ Jonadabª the sonª of Rechabª our fatherª commandedª°¹ us, saying,ª° Ye shall drinkª° no¹ wine,ª [neither ye],¹ nor your sonsª for² ever:ª¹ ... Thus have we obeyedª° the voiceª of Jonadabª the sonª of Rechabª our fatherª in all¹ that¹ he hath chargedª° us, to drinkª° no¹ wineª all¹ our days,ª we,¹ our wives,ª our sons,ª nor our daughters;ª" {Jer 35:6-8} + "But ye gave¹ the Nazaritesª wineª to drink;ª° and commandedª° the prophets,ª saying,ª° Prophesyª° not.¹" {Ams 2:12} + "Forª he shall beª° greatª in the sightª of the¹ Lord,ª andª shall drinkª° neitherª wineª norª strong drink;ª andª he shall be filledª° with the Holyª Ghost,ª evenª fromª his²¹ mother'sª womb.ª" {Lke 1:15} + "Forª Johnª the¹ Baptistª cameª° neitherª eatingª° breadª norª drinkingª° wine;ª andª ye say,ª° He hathª° a devil.ª ... The¹ Sonª of manª is comeª° eatingª° andª drinking;ª° andª ye say,ª° Beholdª° a gluttonousª man,ª andª a winebibber,ª a friendª of publicansª andª sinners!ª" {Lke 7:33-34} + "Andª take heedª° to yourselves,ª lest at any timeª yourª heartsª be overchargedª° withª surfeiting,ª andª drunkenness,ª andª caresª of this life,ª andª [so] thatª dayª comeª° uponª youª unawares.ª" {Lke 21:34} + "Andª be²° not² drunkª°¹ with wine,ª whereinªª isª° excess;ª butª be filledª° withª the Spirit;ª" {Eph 5:18} + "Abstainª° fromª allª appearanceª of evil.ª" {1Th 5:22} + "Drink²° no longer² water,ª°¹ butª useª° a littleª wineª for² thy² stomach's sakeª¹¹ andª thineª oftenª infirmities.ª" {1Tm 5:23}