392 PHYSIOLOGY AND HEALTH. 



no required exertion, omit no necessary supply, and indulge 

 in no wrong appetite or propensity. However small the 

 error, the ever-watchful sentinel of life visits it with a propor- 

 tionate punishment, either of positive pain or lessened en- 

 joyment. 



929. Various powers are given to us, and all are necessary 

 to our being and happiness. The animal powers and wants, 

 the appetites and propensities, give pleasure when used and 

 gratified in suitable degree. The moral and intellectual 

 powers give a higher enjoyment. As the mind needs the 

 body for its earthly home, so the body needs the mind as a 

 director. The bodily health is* preserved by acting in obe- 

 dience to the intellectual and moral faculties, and the mental 

 exercise required for this management of the body is neces- 

 sary for the health of the brain. 



930. These, then, are the intentions of Nature that we 

 lead long, full, and happy lives ; that, from the beginning to the 

 end, we have neither sickness, nor weakness, nor discontent- 

 ment ; and that our bodies attain their fulness of strength, 

 and preserve it to a good old age ; that all our faculties be 

 developed and strengthened in the performance of the duties 

 of life, and every day be filled with uninterrupted faithful- 

 ness or unalloyed pleasure. It is plain that we fall short of 

 all these blessings of life. 



931. Between complete life and death there is a wide 

 interval, in which there are many degrees of health and 

 strength ; and so accustomed are men to the lower degrees, 

 that they seldom look for the higher, but seem generally con- 

 tent with less. But there is a point in which there is a ful- 

 ness of physical, intellectual, and moral power. This, and 

 .his alone, is perfect health. 



932. It is rare that any one passes any considerable period 

 without some sickness so severe as to compel him to suspend 

 his usual employment, and give himselF.up entirely to the 

 work of recovery. Sickness and weakness, in one form or 

 other, seem to be expected as the occasional lot of all ; and 

 much of our time, power, and comfort, is thereby lost 



