Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-08
THE GAZETTE.
FRIDAY MORNING, JANUARY s, 1883.
OUGHT A PREACHER TO BE PHYSICIAN.

OUGHT PREACHER TO BE A PLY slCiAN.
This INQUIRY is answered in the athrma,,
tive by DrsCornell, q Massachusetts, medical
writer, and his opinion is sanctioned 10y the
New York Christian Advocate, the very sensl-
Bile organ of the Methodist L. Church. 10
heal the sick" was one OF the duties imposed
bythe Savior of men upon his disciples, and
the nossession of medical as we'll as religious
ACCOMPLISHMENTS has been found in all ages
greatly 10 enhance the influence of the cler-
Svman, What it has accomplished for the
missionary may be seen 10 the case of the
Jesuit propagandists, and Of DR.. Peter Park
er. the Commissioner to China, when IN the
employ of the American Board OF Foreign
Missions. The presence, at the bed OF ueath'
Of an attendant who at that critical hour,
when heart and flesh fail, can minister 10 the
patients bodily as well as spiritual wants,
must give the church power far beyond whaS
it has in recent years gained over the human
mind.
A review of this subject will show that
down to a comparatively late period medicai
studies were common to the clerical PROBES
sion. Bartholomew Wesley, the grandfather
of John Wesley, was one OF the latest exam
piles of those times. DR.. Coroeli says: John
We,lev, the founder of Methodism, land ne
man ever preached more than he did, like
his Master, took peculiar interest IN restor-
inc health to the sick, and has left among his
various works, one entitled, Primitive Ply
sic, or an Easy and Natural way Of Curing
most Diseases l have now in my posses
sion copy of the 'twenty-third edition OF
this work, Revised and Corrected and re-
published at Philadelphia, 1893. 10 the pre-
face, which was written by Mr.. Wesley, da-
ted London, June llth, l747 there are many
valuable remarks, bearing the image and SUI
prescription of that wonderful man, and
which are well worthy of the perusal OF cer-
gymeu of our day. The republication in
this country is directed TO the members Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. by the
authority of Thomas Coke and FraDcis AS
bury, Bishops of that Church. They say,
Friends aud brethren, the grand inter
est of your souls will ever lie near our
hearts, but we cannot be unmindtul OF your
bodies; we present to you now the Primitive
Physic published by our much hOnored
friend, John Wesley. We lay the publica-
tion before you, and earnestly recommend 1t
to YOU The clergy in those days did not
feel that they were stepping out Of their Ie'
climate profession in prescribing Tor diseases
Of the body, and in using all the means with
in their knowledge for the recovery of the
sick. More than once Mr.. Wesley uses Ian.
guage like the following, or which conveys
the same idea:-'Wheu you have compli-
cation of disorders, you would do well to ap'
ply to physician that fears God AT the
early settlement of Massachusetts, a very
considerable share Of the medical knowledge
then existing was found among the clergy;
they were men thoroughly educated in the
sciences, as we'll as in theology; and, in &C
cordancc with the first commission given to
bis ministers by the Great Head of the
Church, they had paid special attention to all
measures which would contribute to heal the
SICK"