Human Physiology. 327 



our lives to God, let us do nothing to diminish the value of the 

 offering. If we would devote our lives to the service of man 

 how careful should we be not to diminish in any way the value 

 of that service. If we look only to oin own enjoyment, health 

 is the necessary condition of happiness. Life is a trust the 

 talent committed to our care and we are held responsible not 

 to waste it. It is our duty to make the most of it. We have 

 no right to squander, to shorten, to paralyse, to destroy it. It 

 is our duty to preserve, cherish, and in every way make the 

 most of, and do the best with, every power and faculty of body 

 and mind. 



Health is the condition of the highest use and happiness. I 

 do not undervalue the heroism that struggles with pain and 

 disease, nor their purifying and elevating influences. Where 

 they are inherited, or blamelessly incurred, they are to be en- 

 dured with faith and patience, and it is beautiful to see the 

 moral nature triumph over disease and death. But disease and 

 pain are no more to be sought than death itself. If it be a 

 duty to preserve life, it is no less a duty to keep life in its in- 

 tegrity; to preserve our bodies in purity, and vigour, and 

 fulness of life, and to treasure health, strength, and physical, 

 mental, and moral power for their highest uses. 



The virtues enjoined upon us by our religion are all healthy 

 virtues : cleanliness, moral purity, chastity, temperance, indus- 

 try, cheerfulness, hope, faith, charity, in a word, Holiness 

 Wholeness Health, 



