MUSCULAR EXERCISE OF LITERARY MEX. 239 



that every muscle has distributed to it, one set of nerves 

 for muscular action, and another for cerebral impres- 

 sions, proves beyond all doubt, that this is the case. The 

 vigorous and healthy action of the muscles absolutely 

 require that the brain, at the same time, should be under 

 excitement, otherwise the nervous influence from which 

 muscular contractility is derived, will not be supplied. 



Now the great obstacle to clerical amusements ap- 

 pears to arise from the circumstance, that the feelings 

 and prejudices of the public, to a considerable extent, at 

 least, will not allow those men to partake of such gym- 

 nastic sports as people generally may indulge in, and 

 which of all others, is the kind of exercise they most re- 

 quire. 



We are far from desiring to see the dignity of the 

 clergy lowered, and we should regret as much as oth- 

 ers, to see them doing acts, which would in the least 

 degree tend to lessen the respect which they have, and 

 ought to maintain from the public. But it seems abso- 

 lutely necessary that something should be done on this 

 subject. Not a year elapses, but a number, often of the 

 most devoted and useful members of the sacred office, 

 in different parts of our country, are under the necessi- 

 ty of leaving their people, being literally " worn out " 

 with their clerical labors. This, it is well known, is the 

 case, in a greater, or less degree, with all the orthodox 

 denominations, the ministers of which, are expected 

 every sabbath in the year, at least, in many parts of the 

 country, to produce two well written sermons, besides a 

 semi- weekly "lecture ; and to perform other parish duties 

 requiring as a whole, almost unremitted mental labor 

 from one year's end to another. 



Men incapable of constant mental labor. Now the 

 facts clearly prove that human beings, taken as a body, 

 are incapable, under such circumstances, of sustaining 

 such mental burthens ; they sink down under them from 

 debility and exhaustion, and one after another, even in 

 the prime of life, and in the midst of their usefulness, dis- 

 appear from public scenes, and in not a few instances, 

 find that they have done so too late. 



Clergymen are still men, and like others, are subject 

 to the laws which govern vital and corporeal action ; 



