Predicting danger does not dignify life, whereas fore-
casting liberty and joy does; for these are strong pro- [10]
moters of health and happiness. All education should
contribute to moral and physical strength and freedom.
If a cold could get into the body without the assent of
mind, nature would take it out as gently, or let it remain
as harmlessly, as it takes the frost out of the ground or [15]
puts it into the ice-cream to the satisfaction of all.
The sapling bends to the breeze, while the sturdy oak,
with form and inclination fixed, breasts the tornado. It
is easier to incline the early thought rightly, than the
biased mind. Children not mistaught, naturally love [20]
God; for they are pure-minded, affectionate, and gen-
erally brave. Passions, appetites, pride, selfishness, have
slight sway over the fresh, unbiased thought.
Teach the children early self-government, and teach
them nothing that is wrong. If they see their father with [25]
a cigarette in his mouth—suggest to them that the habit
of smoking is not nice, and that nothing but a loathsome
worm _naturally_ chews tobacco. Likewise soberly inform
them that “Battle-Axe Plug” takes off men’s heads; or,
leaving these on, that it takes from their bodies a sweet [30]
something which belongs to nature,—namely, pure
odors.
[Page 241.]
From a religious point of view, the faith of both youth [1]
and adult should centre as steadfastly in God to benefit
the body, as to benefit the mind. Body and mind are
correlated in man’s salvation; for man will no more
enter heaven sick than as a sinner, and Christ’s Christi- [5]
anity casts out sickness as well as sin of every sort.
Test, if you will, metaphysical healing on two patients:
one having morals to be healed, the other having a physi-
cal ailment. Use as your medicine the great alterative,
Truth: give to the immoralist a mental dose that says, [10]
“You have no pleasure in sin,” and witness the effects.
Either he will hate you, and try to make others do like-
wise, so taking a dose of error big enough apparently to
neutralize your Truth, else he will doubtingly await the
result; during which interim, by constant combat and [15]
direful struggles, you get the victory and Truth heals him
of the moral malady.
On the other hand, to the bedridden sufferer admin-
ister this alternative Truth: “God never made you sick:
there is no necessity for pain; and Truth destroys the [20]
error that insists on the necessity of any man’s bondage
to sin and sickness. “Ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.’ ”
Then, like blind Bartimeus, the doubting heart looks
up through faith, and your patient rejoices in the gospel [25]
of health.
Thus, you see, it is easier to heal the physical than the
moral ailment. When divine Truth and Love heal, of
sin, the sinner who is at ease in sin, how much more should
these heal, of sickness, the sick who are dis-eased, dis- [30]
comforted, and who long for relief!
[Page 242.]
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