MUSCULAR EXERCISE OF LITERARY MEN. 235 



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

 for muscular action, and another for cerebral impressions, 

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

 ous and healthy action of the muscles absolutely require 

 that the brain, at the same time, should be under excite- 

 ment, otherwise the nervous influence from which muscular 

 contractility is derived, will not be supplied. 



741. Now the great obstacle to clerical amusements 

 appears to arise from the circumstance, that the feelings 

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

 least, will not allow these 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 

 require. 



742. We are far from desiring to see the dignity of the 

 clergy lowered, and we should regret as much as others, 

 to see them doing acts which would in the least degree 

 tend to lessen the respect \vhich they have, and ought 

 to maintain from the public. But It seems absolutely 

 necessary that something should be done on this subject. 

 Not a year elapses, but a number, often of the most de- 

 voted and useful members of the sacred office, in different 

 parts of our country, are under the necessity of leav- 

 ing 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 denomina- 

 tions, the ministers of which, are expectgd every Sabbath 

 in the year, at least in many parts of the country, to pro- 

 di%e two well-written sermons, beside 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. 



743. 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 burdens ; 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, disappear from 

 public scenes, and in not a few instances, find that they 

 have done so too late. 



744. Clergymen are still men, and like others, are sub- 

 iect to the laws which govern vital and corporeal action ; 



