Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-29
Henry Ward Bsecher on Physical Health.

ICES Mr.. Beechcr mental performances has re-
Oolsod very pleasant raiIlustration in a recent
sermon upon physical culture, delivered in Plym-
outh Church. on behalf of the Young Mems
Christian Association Of Brooklyn, and with
special reference to tho establishments large
gymnasium by that association.
We give below Il few extracts from the scr
| mon.
" 1t may seem strange to Some that should
speak Of health as duty; but it's d duty-itis
a Christian duty, II it is Il dpty weldon spoken
Of in the pulpit, 80 much tie worso---so muol.
the more need that we should begin to do bott.r.
If mm will observe molorations in their
passions and app.titos If they will make it
habit to study and TO o5ay those natarallw Of
God which respect thoir bodies; if in the nIul-
geuc2 Of scnSuoua pleasures, in 2lng and drink
lng, in sleeping and exercise, in tho interchange
Of labor and amusement, in Jho use Of Gods
oceanic bounse8 Of wator and air. they will
study tho economy OF nature anl f Gol-if
they will do these thing they may b. Uniform
ly healthy"
The relation d health to gracious Christian
affections is most intimate aud important Ma
ny Of the temptations which beat upon men are
chose which conc from morbid conditions, and
would be cured By simple health. Healthy men
ofentmcs are quite ignorant Of the difficulties
Of their weaker brethren, whose weakness is in
their stomach and body primarily. What are
called spiritual throes, are to the very last de
gre natural throas although they take On spir-
itual forms outTarly. There is not . pastor
that has had wide OK pclionco in dealing with
persons afflicted with morbid states Of mind,
who does net know that multitudcs and multi
tudes Of the cases that come to him to be treat
} cd spiritually, nc must treat rs physician and
psychologist, and net as an ethical and moral
teacher; because many Of the difficulties that
, are supposed to be spiritual, are purely physi-
cal. Many Of the fundamental Christian virtues
--sentlenes patience, cp'tonimfnt, hope; cheer
, fuIncss, cehrage, are 80 largely dependent on
health, that in all but exceptionable cases they
are not to be looked for in the unhealthy. Now
: and then VIC iinl q bed-riddon person that main
: tains these virtues. Such persons arc rare cx-
ceptions. They are called saints, because they
! are 80 rare. But those who minister to the sick
know that they are almost universally deficient
: in these virtues, in consequence Of their physi-
/, cal condition.
III man besot with manifold temptations
comes to me for relief, and he will not slecr
more than five hours in twcnty.lour, when he
shouidslecp eight hours, what can do for him :
Hymns will not cure him. Neither will text,
nor sermons. 1t person will drink green tea
which is like the quintessenco Of thousand
d ncedle-ronts in its effects on man 4 nerves
II what 10 the us3 Of complaints about blue devils
= They are not blue devils they arc green devils
d If man gorgcs and Expresses his stomach, an,
SO ogctlays the keys Of lirc--for The keys Of lf
arc located in the stomach, as the keys Of til
It piano and the organ are loca ted in their applu
D pirate places in those instuMcnts-and he come
? to mo for deiyerance from temptations or 70
IL the rcmoyai Of olscurities that stand botwee
ID his soul and God, Unless can have control c
IL that mans habits Of eating, what can | I, H.
+, !im?"
in " For all t1,esc reasons, then, and Ter man
st more that it would fail me to instance here,
ct speak Of health AS Il Christian duty, and sl
Ill that every conscientious aud upright Chriatia
at man ought to make it matter of duty to |
IN healthy, and ought 70 regard himself as havn
he fallen into sin when he has fallen into sickness
Ic- With very few exceptions, sickness is the test
g, nVny OF God to man that he has violated M
n urri law. Sickness lisa puniaLmcnttor theabu
ut Of the body, jost rs remOrsa of conscience is Eul
uT ishaont Tor the violation Of any known law
lie conduct. God meant that the world should
nd full Of healthy men, aud it is Il Aagrant sin f
I'D lnnn to fall from obedience to laws Of healtl
-----s $50.
Nh TnG TEACHINGS Of HISTORY. The distinguis
ay cd German historian, Niebuhr, has said tha
,ry whatever +" pc ple may think Of the practic
me utility of history, it ctnnos b. denied tn
the " an intimate acquaintance with it is 81
no. preventative from being deiaded by many
led ignas fat'ms. " The intelligent student Of o
- own annals can recall the frequent periods
her which 1t has been common to despair Of t
of Republic, and such ~ retrospect can hardly
yet to prove instructive in every season of pub
ko- apprehension as serving to show that t
ose " evils believed from time to time to be inc
the liable have existed rather in fancy than in fac