1846.] The Work of Faith and Hope. 215 



An elderly physician of great experience was waited upon by 

 a person residing at a distance whose purpose was to consult him 

 in regard to his health. He had imbibed the impression that his 

 disease was the consumption, and if so, there was no remedy for 

 him, and he wished the doctor to be plain and frank and tell him 

 distinctly whether his case was one of that disease or not. . Ac- 

 cordingly the doctor, after investigating his case, expressed his 

 fear that it was possible that such was the fact; and yet that it 

 had not advanced so far but that it was proper to entertain strong 

 hopes that it might be cured. Upon this result, the patient ex- 

 pressed no surprise, but told the doctor that he had no hopes that 

 anything could cure him, when he immediately left, returned home 

 on foot many miles, took to his room and bed, and died in ten 

 days. This example illustrates what influence the mind may ex- 

 ert on special occasions upon the body. 



A gentleman who had distinguished himself in science in one 

 of the middle States, had been known to say that he did not wish 

 to live beyond the age of forty. This gentleman died at the time 

 he wished. This case is one which is less clear than the preced- 

 ing; but still few will doubt that where a feeling exists its influ- 

 ence will be felt more or less by the corporeal system. Many 

 examples of the same kind are upon record, which go to show 

 the same unfavorable influence upon life. 



But there are many cases of a very diflferent nature from those 

 we have given, which clearly illustrate, and very forcibly too, the 

 influence of the feelings upon the diff"erent organs. The most com- 

 mon is the sense of shame, which causes a blush upon the cheek ; 

 an unexpected knock upon the door to cause the heart to throb 

 and the lips to turn pale; a sudden fright to blanch the hair in 

 a night, and a cause of sudden joy or grief to paralyze the whole 

 frame, when it sinks down in death. 



There is, then, a reciprocating influence between the spirit and 

 the body, between the mental and corporeal parts of the frame. 

 How much life is shortened, or how much it is lengthened by this 

 reciprocity of influence, no one can tell. The turbalent vicissi- 

 tudes, the weighty cares of life, the domestic joys or troubles, 



