CONCLUSION. 395 



originally equal power, and were prepared to perform equal 

 work, there must have been some variation from, or failure 

 in, the conditions of being. This failure of any one or all 

 of the organs may arise from one of two causes from 

 some deficiency of the building up the body, in the devel- 

 opment and strengthening of its organs, or from some mis- 

 take in the expenditure of its powers. 



938. Strength should be constantly added, by means of 

 food, air, exercise, &c., and a portion of this strength may 

 be expended through the muscles, or the brain and nervous 

 system. We may err in the building up the body, by sup- 

 plying it with insufficient, innutritious, indigestible, or exces- 

 sive food, or with impure air. Or we may repair the vital 

 machine with too much cost of nervous power, or with the 

 wear and the waste of the organs of supply. To this daily 

 repair of the body some strength must be given. This re- 

 pair must be attended to before any other matters; and, if it 

 be faithfully made, it will generate more strength than it 

 consumes, and leave a surplus portion to be devoted to 

 other purposes. 



939. The energy, or power of the body for its self-suste- 

 nance, and for its action beyond itself, is what is called the 

 constitution. This vital constitution, in regard to health 

 and action, may be likened to capital in trade, and the sur- 

 plus power of action may be considered as its income. 

 That amount of income, or surplus strength, which is gath- 

 ered daily, and no more, may be daily expended. But if 

 the expenditure exceeds the income, and more strength is 

 expended than is gained, it draws so much upon the capital, 

 or the constitution, and then the body must lie still and rest, 

 to regain its loss. 



940. There are manifold ways in which the gathered 

 power may be expended, in mental labor, or muscular 

 exercise, in grief, irregularities and intemperance of every 

 sort, excessive action of the digestive organs, stimulation 

 of alcohol, excitement, passion, exposure to cold, &c. In 

 most of these ways, a limited amount of power may be 



