The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
a SHORT SERMON DEALING WITH
THE SUNNY SIDE OF LIFE.
BY Rev. George Lander Perrin, ID. d.,
UniversaIist, Boston, Mass.

I'm the world We shall have tribulation
but be of good cheer; have overcome the
world. john xvi, 80.
Here Jesus acknowledges the common
troubles of men, their anxieties, their sor-
rows. He himself was "a man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief" but if we take
this incident in connection with many 9TH
ers that might be mentioned, and particu-
larly in connection with His own brave
way of bearing troubles and trials, we shall
see that He was also himself man Of good
cheer.
Notice the value Of good cheer. Most Of
us, perhaps never stop to think what it is
really worth. If the day is fine we are
in good health; if all the currents of life
move smoothly and serenely, II nothing
comes to trouble, we are cheerful, and per-
haps glad that we are so. On the other
hand, If we come in contact with a sullen
morose, disagreeable, uncheerful man we
are disturbed, perhaps disguised and trou-
bled by him, and let it go at that. We
90 not really consider the value of good
cheer enough to make ourselves feel respon-
sible for searching for it or fulfilling the
conditions by which it is obtained, or even
perhaps seriously to study the question at
all. But in the race of life, in life's compe-
tition, here is one great quality, partly men
tai, partly moral-perhaps more important
than the ordinary education and the special
training to fit one for trade or profession.
1t is this quality of cheer upon which TO
large extent the whole course Of life de-
Ponds.
1t is a condition of health. Even the
prophet of old understood this when he
said, "A merry heart doeth good like a
medicine" But we in these days have seen
so much of the real value of cheer that we
would put it stronger than the prophet
does, and say that cheerfulness is better
than any medicine. 1t has been amply
demonstrated that a mans temper, what
ever it be, sweet or sour, has an immediate
reaction upon the acids of his body. A
mans respiration is affected, his blood is
affected, the operations of all the organs of
the body are more or less affected by the
condition of his mind. An eminent English
medical journal bears this testimony:
This power Of good spirits is a matter or
high moment to the sick and weakly. 1t is
of the greatest Importance TO cultivate the
most buoyant frame of mind which condi-
tons will admit. Mental influences affect
the system, and joyous spirit not only re-
lieves pain, but increases the momentum of
life in the body"
MORAL HEALTH.
But it is not merely a condition OF bodily
health 1t is also a condition Of moral
health. like a boy who whistles. Not so
much because 1 think boys whistle is
particularly musical. There are other
noises which, as such. would be quite as
agreeable, and yet l never saw the time
when boys whistle was not distinctively
agreeable TO me, because a whistling boy,
! other things being equal. is the happy and
the good boy. a boy does not whistle
when he is in mischief or contemplating
mischief. lie whistles. as a rule. when his
thoughts are good. when he is looking on
the right side of things. 1 do not believe L
ever saw a criminal of any sort much given
TO laughter. AS a rule the murderer does
not smile He does not laugh. His face
will generally betray seriousness and anxi-
ETY.. There is little peace OF mini, and
therefore little cheerfulness of disposition.
The sins OF life are. as a rule. committed
not by the cheerful. but by the peevish. the
fretful, the sour, the morose IN disposition,
and when you have done something to
sweeten and brighten the disposition of the
sinner you have taken long step ia the
direction Of his reformation. Indeed, IL is