Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-11-30


REu. HENRY WARD BEEcIIER ON Pay
CAL HEALTH. That versatility which no
signally characterizes Rev. Mr.. Beechers
mental performances, has received very
pleasant re-illustraton in a recent sermon
upon physical culture, delivered in Ply
mouth Church, on behalf of the Young
Mems Christian Association of Brooklyn,
and with special reference to the establish
ment of large gymnasium by that assoc
citation. We give below a few extracts
from the sermon
1t may seem strange to some that l
should speak of health as duty; but it
is duty-it is Christian duty. II it
is duty seldom spoken Of in the pulpit,
so much the worse--so much the more
need that we should begin to do better
If mcn will. observe moderation in their
passions and appctitcs; if they will make
it habit to study and to obey those nat
ural laws of God which respect their bod
les if in the indulgence Of scnsuous
pleasures, in eating and drinking. in sleep
me and exercise, in the interchange of Ia
Dor and amusement, in the use Of Gods
oceanic bounies of water and air, they
will study the economy Of nature and Of
God-if they will do these things they
may be uniformly healthy.
The relation of health to gracious Chris
tian affections is most intimate and impor-
tant. Many of the temptations which
beat upon men are those which come from
morbid conditions, and would he cured by
simple health. Healthy men often
times arc quite ignorant of the difficulties
of their weaker brethren, whose weakness
is in their stomach and body primarily
What are called spiritual throes, arc to tho
very last degree natural throes, although
they take on spiritual forms ontwardly.-
There is not pastor that has wide' xperi-
ence in dealings with persons afflicted with
morbid states of mind, who does not know
that multitudes and multitudes of the ca
ses that come to him to be treated spirit
ually, he must treat as a physician and
psychologist, and not as an ethical and
moral teacher; because many of the diff
culties that are supposed to be spiritual,
are purely physical. Many of the funda-
mental Christian virtues-gentleness, pa
thence, contentment, hope, cheerfulness,
courage, are so largely dependent on
health, that in all but exceptionablc cases
they are not to be looked for in the un-
healthy. Now and then we find bed
ridden person that maintains these virtues.
Such persons are rare exceptions. They
are called saints, because they are so rare.
But those who minister to the sick know
that they are almost universally deficient
in these virtues, in consequence Of their
physical condition.
If man beset with manifold tempta-
tions come to me for relief, and he will
not sleep more than five hours in twenty
four, when he should sleep eight hours,
what can l do for him? Hymns will not
cure him. Neither will texts nor sermons.
If person will drink green tea,
which is like the quintessence Of a thous-
and necdlc.points in it's effects on mans
nerves, what is the use of complaints
about the bue-devis? They are not
blue devils they are green devils. lfa
man gorges and opprcsses his stomach, as
the keys of the piano and the organ are
iocdlcd III .hcH "PPioPii"'o Prov" III o"o'"
instrumcnts---and he comes to me for de-
liverencc from the temptations or for the
removal of obscurities that stand between
his soul and Cod and unless | can have
control of that mans habits of eating, what
can do for him
For all these reasons, then, and for ma
nv more that it would fail me to instance
here, speak of health as a Christian du-
ty, and say that every conscientious and
upright Christian man ought to make it
matter of duty to be healthy, and ought
to regard himself as having fallen into sin
when he has fallen into sickness, With
very few exceptions, sickoess is the testi-
mony of God to man that he has viola-
ted the natural law, Sickness is pun
ishmcnt for the abuse Of the body, just as
rcmorse of conscience is punishment for
the violation Of any known law ofconduct.
G cd meant that the world should be full
of healthy men, aud it is a fragrant sin tor
a man to fall from obedience to laws Of
health,