The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-11

reciprocal influence of mind and body is recog-
nized in the Holy Scriptures. You Will recall the
instance of the fearful melancholy of SAUL the
king and how it was dissipated, and his mind
restored to cheerfulness by the sweet tones of
David's harp.
Christian biography and the journals and let
tiers OF Christian people, fully maintain the prop
ostion of this theme that our spiritual states are
often materially purely intellectual phases, or the
senslblllties IN their purely temporal concern
may also similarly affect the mind and sensbii-
ties with reference to moral ends and spiritual
interests. Rev. DIR. Archibald Alexander was
seriously disturbed by the east wind during
which he had seasons of great spiritual depres-
sion He once remarked it was merciless in
Satan to assal him when the wind was blowing
from the east Once being asked whether he
enjoyed a full assurance of faith, yes he re-
piled, except when the east wind blows
Is it not evident that the cause of spiritual
dependency must oftentimes be sought in the
condition of the physical system, and its cure
effected in part by the judicious treatment of
bodily ailments2 When a student in college, L
posted on my door the motto Health and Saliva
ton" but did not then understand now the
close relation between the physical and the
spiritual man. Many man has thought the
mercies of the Lord are clean gone forever
when it has only been the effects of bad cooking,
of sour weather, of the use of narcotics, or the
poisoning influence of some disease working in
the system. Religion seats it elf in the
feelings. for it has largely to do with hope
fear, joy, love- and the like, and the
feelings are specially subject to physical in
1uences by which they may be elevated OF de-
pressed like the mercury in the thermometer.
A writer has even said bodily ahliction is often
the cause of total change in the moral nature y
1t is certain that people are sometimes strangely
under sort of hallucination, in which things do
not appear in their true light and during which
the person will seriously err in Judgment and
be misled into questionable conduct.
1t will not suffice to take it for granted that
all these states are consequent upon our neglect
of Christian duty, or want of Christian fidelity.
We shall thus blame the soul for what belongs
to the body and charge Satan with what belongs
to disease. 1t is one of the distressing features
of these cases that the sufferer is often not sem
sible of the real source of his trouble. There
may be an apparent spiritual elevation that is
really the result Of the physical condition 1t is
we'll known that while diseases of the stomach,
kidneys or liver may unduly depress those
OF the heart or lungs may unduly elevate the
spirits. So that neither is the physical de-
preston of the one to be attributed to the sin
fulneSs of the heart, or the buoyancy of the
other to the influences of the holy Comforter
The Imperative duty of seeking the real cause of
our spiritual condition Is apparent for on the
one hand we must not be deceived into false
hope, nor on the other robbed Of that hope and
comfort which rightly belongs to US.
A man has no right to chide his want of faith
whenit is merely want of digestion. He has no
when the real cause is no more one involving
moral accountability than does the toothache
He has no right to mourn dullness Of spirit;
want OF access IN prayer, and lack of religious
feeling when the cause lies outside of the spir-
itual nature.
Having reason to place the cause of your
dependency in bodily ailments allow some sug-
gestions Seek the aid Of skillful and pious
physician say pious, for such will best under
stand your case. Do not take to the Lord what
belongs to the doctor. Give yourself all needed
rest Let there be sufficient sleep, seek pure
air and be in all things temperate Let the
apartments of your dwelling be well lighted and
well ventilated Use proper discrimination in
selecting wholesome food and using it in moder-
ate quantities Such are some of the advices for
the body
For the mind would say; avoid all gloomy
tendencies If you have death-bed scenes hang
ing on the walls take them down. If you have
been accustomed to read books tending to NOR
bidness of mind or treating Of your bodily all
ments, lay them aside. If in your tender memories
of your dead you have fallen into morbid grief
which makes their relics objects of well-nigh ador
alton and sends you with too frequent brooding
over sorrow to the resting places of loved ones,
remember that even this may only feed
the, dull, destroying spirit Of mel
ancholy and engender spiritual bondage.
Avoid solitude, avoid idleness; keep well occu-
pied both in mind and body. Do not make the
mistake of stunning society, but seek it. 1t
may be painful, and cost you a struggle, but
hold on to society Let the royal power of your
iron will be called into exercise. Brace up
against dependency; set hard against these
tendencies your enlightened judgment of your
case. The thing you most need to do is to keep
your thoughts as much as possible from your
self With David, seek the help that comes from
God. Think Of the years Of the right hand of
the Most High, the works of the Lord, and
remember his wonders of old.
Lay hold upon the assurance offered in the
gospel and which God gives by his spirit bearing
witness with our own. The great company
John saw in his vision came up not out Of much
joy and ecstacy. but out of much tribulation,
and when the Savior left the earth he did not
say to his disciples, Ny joy leave with you, .
but my peace We must learn as Christians
to rigdly discriminate between frames Of mind
and settled life principles. The great Mlssis-
sippi pours its waters toward every part Of the
heavens. Holding compass in my hand one
day as was going down it in a steamer found
it actually running with full torrent toward the
north as if it would flow back upon its very
source. Yet who does not know that onward
with power not to be stayed, the Mississippi
rushes to the seal What if the rocks shall
seem to swerve us for time; what if the storm
trials of life shall seem to defect our course; if
the strong current of our being is toward the
bosom of the infinite, is not that to be our refuge
in the darkest hour2