Kansas City daily journal., 1896-11-15
Souls and Bodies,

Souls and Bodies.
G. H. Hepworth. in New York Herald.
That ye present your bodies a living sac
nfice, holy, acceptable unto God.-Romans,
kill.
He shall give delight unto thy SOUL
Proverbs, xxix:17
The relation between a mans body and
his soul may be likened to that between q
violin and the man who plays on it.
skillful player can bring good music out
of a poor instrument but he cannot do his
best work unless the violin is capable of
expressing the harmonies he has heard in
his dreams.
In like manner the best Instrument IN the
world produces poor music in the hands OF
a tyro. He handles something which he
does not appreciate, and which. to certain
extent. loses Its value because he cannot
make 1t do what 1t is capable OF doing.
The IDEAL music is made by a skilled
player with a perfect violin.
So the soul and body must work. together
II the best results are to be attained. As
God made 1t. the body is the noblest con-
ceivable residence for the soul during this
preliminary part of its career. 1t was not
His intention, 1t was not part of HIS plan
that the ailments OF the body should inter-
fere with the normal development OF the
soul If they do II Is because some nat
urai law has been broken. 1t is impossible
to think of God as responsible for body
that IS imperfect, and equally impossible
to believe that body could ever become
imperfect or defective IL Gods wishes had
been observed and His commands obeyed.
We have fallen from the grace of phys
ical wholeness. The mere animal Is better
off than man in this respect 1t follows its
instincts. which make no mistakes. while
We follow. not SO much OUT reason, which
would keep uS from going astray, as our
passions and appetite. which are capri
cious and reckless. The Hon Is perfect with
in his limitations He lives without worry
and dies without pain. He is like an ex-
quisite piece Of machinery. which does its
work with ease until the power that drives
1t Is checked That Will some time be true
of the human race. When we learn what
1t Is that produces our maladfes and have
strength of will to avoid it. We. too, shall
live in health until the body. like an old
house. tumbles down and the soul seeks Q
better home.
But the reform must commence in the
mind and the heart. We have already be-
gun to see that man with impure
thoughts cannot have a perfect body. and
that there is preservative element in
high and holy thinking. Perhaps I may
venture to go stiN further and say that
when the mind has vision Of the perfect
| life the body itself will be somewhat af-
| fected thereby, and that the physical func-
| tons will make an effort to repair them
tically lives and moves and has its being
In Him whom no evil can touch.
I mean simply this. and the truth Of
what say will be recognized by all-that
| disease is wholly abnormal, and that the
| only natural state il q state of health We
| are not physically what We ought to be
because We are not morally what we should
be. The lower part Of a mans nature has
caused every malady from which the
| world suffers. and no efectual remedy can
be found until the lower rs made subject
to the higher. When men come to be
more faithful. more loving and tender and
| charitable, the Inheritance Of nobler quail
| tiles will slowly obliterate our present her,
| itage of physical evil and the perfect man
| will be seen on earth.
in the heart and mind. Give me q perfect
body to begin with. and II Gods laws are
| my laws shall keep that body perfect to
the end Of life's pilgrimage. Feed me on
unworthy thoughts. stimulate my animal
| passions. make me selfish and greedy Of
forbidden pleasures. and the crooked mind
will In time make my body crooked, for in
the long run the mind Is the body's master.
AS I take my place on this standpoint
and look abroad on human life am op-
| pressvely impressed with the fact that
| what men need more than anything else,
more than all things else. Is the religion
of the great Master Of our souls. Give me
| no mans creed as q substitute do not ask
me to drink Of the painted river en- the
| canvas when am thirsty, but gfve me
significantly caffed-which IS the secret of
Christ and Of His power. I want to know
Him personally and care little to know
| simply about Him. must have that which
| He had, must live the life He lived must
| share His thought Of God. His trust In the
Father. Then my faith will make me whole.
body and soul, and keep me 50. II God
| dwelts in me there II no room for evil
there.
The religion Of the day Is too formal and
perfunctory. 1t Is not real and genuine.
but adulterated with all sorts Of notions
and theories. 1t Is the Christ we need.
who could say. I and my Father are one.
and who prayed that we might be one with
Him in q like fashion.
God is willing. but man IS unwilling.
There is a conduit that leads from the
mountain spring into the home, from God
| to the human heart SO long as that con-
dnit is in perfect repair 1t will furnish all
| the spring water we can use. But II the
| conduit is broken and the refreshing water
escapes or cnly falls a dripping stream,
drop by drop. the generosity Of the spring
counts for nothing.
In very truth. think our Journalism and
folly have broken the conduit between US
and Gods great love. Our religion con-
ssts Of only a few drops Mend the con-
duit and all the love Of heaven Is at our
service. Healthy bodies and noble souls
will be the result when we accept Christ
in His fullness.