Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-08-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Aug. 8, 1908.
By REV. S. H. DOY

Topic.-why and how to be healthy
I Cor. vi. 10. 20.
There are few things in life that are
more important than good health. With
It and fair amount of intelligence
one may accomplish "a great deal in
lifetime. But without it even a most
brilliant mind cannot compensate it.
hence the classic adage, "A sound
mind in sound body" III health
comes from various sources. Some
times it is inherited. or at least the
tendency toward certain diseases which
bring i'll health for perhaps many
years is inherited. In other cases.
through accidents and events beyond
our control. We suffer permanent i'll
health. In such cases no blame rests
upon us, but with brave heart and
trust in God we should strive to re-
gain as far as possible this great bless
ing of life.
Ill health frequently comes as a re-
suit of our own misdeeds. Nervous
diseases, so plentiful and so disastrous
today, are usually the result of over
work or overworry, or both combined.
The insatiate greed for gold leads
many to irregularity in living, to bur-
dening mind and body more than they
are able to stand. and the result is the
weakening of the nervous system.
which is so vital to health. Sinful
lives, for which men are responsible
themselves, wreck the health of many
. man. Licentlousness, intemperance
and other sins wifi sooner or later
wreck the strongest of constitutions.
and we find men at forty i'll and de-
crepit who should be physically and
mentally in the very prime of life.
But they are old men before their day,
made so by indulgence in sinful and
ruinous vices. Young people, guard
well your health If you have it, and
seek 1t if it is in any way impaired.
But why should we be healthy? 1t
has already been pointed out that
health is important to our temporal
welfare, but it is more than that. Our
bodies, as Paul says, are the temple of
the Holy Ghost, and this dwelling
place should be healthful one. 1t
should be especially free from sin and
the forms of illness that cover this sin
Moreover, the apostle declares that our
bodies are not ours alone; that they
belong to Christ, who has bought them
with his own life's blood, and Christ
wants the bodies that belong to Him to
be clean and healthy. While on earth
He healed mems bodies and still today
does so, when in accordance with Gods
will and plan for us, in answer to our
prayers. These facts testify to His in
terest in the health of our bodies.
Moreover, strong healthy bodies are
necessary to the best service that we
can render God We are commanded
to love God with all our strength
physical strength. Nor can the mind
and soul reach their highest achieve
ments except with strong. vigorous bod.
les Bodily limitations are tremendous
obstacles when they are strong, but
how they hinder us when they are
weak and ineffective!
How may we be healthy? Obey the
laws of God and of nature. The man
who obeys Gods written commands
will avoid many things that break
down the health of the body. The man
who obeys the laws of God in nature
viii conserve good health. Be tenn
perate in all things-eating drinking,
In work and in pleasure. Be regular in
all habits and have only good ones
Eat good food. Waste none Of your
sleeping time, for sleep is a great fac
tor in health. Find time for recreation
and exercise, always remembering that
overexercising is as imprudent as none
at all. A man whose business is in an
Office does not need muscles like a
Sandow and only Injuries himself in
trying to develop them by excess.
Spend as much time as possible out of
doors and in outdoor exercise. The
simple methods of developing and pre-
serving health are in the majority of
cases the better. Then when passing
good health "glorify God in your body
and in your spirit, which are Gods"
BIBLE READINGS
Gen. xiii, 1928; Lev. xix, 81. IS:
Prov. xvii, 20-22; Ps, Gill 1-5; cxix.
1854; John vi. 47-51; l. Cor iii, 16. IL;
/. Tim. iv, s.; III. John /, 3.