Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1864-04-08

There is a reason, in tie nature Of things, for
every Divine Injunction. The reason may uot
always be apparent, bat that it exists admits Of
no doubt in The mind Of the rejecting theist.
To question this truth is 70 charge the all-Wiso
Creator with actions entirely incompatible with
the attributes Of a rational being. We cannot
conceive Of such being seting OF inStisuting q
law, without, ct the same time, eoneeiving that
Acs or law connected with q reason.
If the Chrissian follows the example Of bis
Savior in fasting and prayer, be shoald endea-
vOr to do so intelhgenty, knowing the reason
Why these ara associated duties. If this IS not
essential, it is at least important
The relation between the digestion Of food
and the exercise of devotional feeling deyslopes
the reason for the Institution of fasting. What
is this relation For an answer 70 this ques-
fion attention is invited to the following facts
All functional activity in the animal organism
requires the stimulus Of blood to sustain It. A
portion Of the brain is the instrument through
which devotional feeling is manifested When
ever the brain fails to receive An adequate sup
ply of pure blood to sustain It's exercise, al tha
Operations Of the mind, including of eoufse
those Of devotional feeling, become, eonsequsnt-
| Iy, pToportioBally feeble and inefficient. The
brain, in proportion to It's size, requires iron
fivs to ten times more blood than any other Pof-
tion of the system
Food in the stomaeh creates demand for an
increased supply Of blood to secrste gasiEe
juice. This increased supply Of blood mustoS
EbstracIed from ether portions Of the Sy1-e
When digestion is in progress, The brsg ...s ~.
yield its portion Of the tax levied on - -
guiReous and nervous fluids by the ssLaHS1,- =
As these are established physiologies ias.ss =
is unnecessary to attempt their proc f4oro - y.
have often been proven, as may = ses. ~
EefsTenea 10 works on physiology IRON 49,
facts, the relation sUbsisting bstEsen digestion
and devotion, when existing At The sane tlInss
in the same body, Is rsia,i5n OF a1tsgouiEmi
and hence, sxch viii be more or less completely
performed ia proportion a. he other Is, ioE th8
| time, hsld in allegiance
i follows, thsTsfors,i that digestion inisrfeEes
With devotion, By EishdrsHing h0n that por-
ton Of the brain through which it IS manifested,
/ the blood needed 10 sustain its functional &C.
/ tiTityi and, that fasting promotes devotional
| feeling By leaving the blood that would other
wise be eoncerued IN the stomach, free 10 EuS-
| tain the activity Of the brain Here IS the Oh
ises and reason Of IFS Institution Fasting pro
notes devotional feeling, therefore the alsWiss
| Creator has commanded bis peopls 70 fast
Thus does physiology vindicAss the Wisdozz
/ and beneicislce Of the Master, whe, sixteen
| centuries before il was known TO tae word hat
/ the blood eirculsted, graSped intuinFsly the
/ nrinei1les of q science then unkn9Wn 20 tbs
/ visest. of men, and in the practical Develop
T,snt Of our holy religion, sPphed those princi-
/ nlag. whose soHndness has been proved by tha
/ most mafured stt1inmenf5 and ded1cnons d
knowledge and philosophy y ChTtstisS isasz.