莱尔主教upper_room-第5章
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and soul； and body； may be preserved blameless。〃〃 Present your
bodies a living sacrifice。〃Let 〃Christ be magnified in my body。〃Let
the 〃life of Jesus be manifest in our mortal flesh。〃We shall 〃receive
the things done in the body。〃Where； indeed； and how； could the graces
of temperance； soberness； chastity； and self…denial be shown forth
except in and through the body？ （Rom。 6：13； 1 Cor。 6：19…20； 1 Thess。
5：23； Rom。 12：1； Phil。 1：20； 2 Cor。 4：11； 2 Cor。 5：10）。
（e） Look； finally； at that grand distinctive hope which sustains the
Christian amidst the deaths； and funerals； and pains； and partings； and
sufferings of this world。 That hope is the resurrection of the flesh
after death。 Our bodies shall live again。 The grave cannot hold them。
We part from those who fall asleep in Jesus in the blessed confidence
that we shall meet and see them again； better； stronger； more beautiful
than they ever were upon earth。 For ever let us thank God that the
glorious gospel which we profess to believe makes provision for our
bodies as well as our souls。
But； after all； the importance which Christianity attaches to the body
is not one whir greater than that which is continually attached to it
by the children of this world。 It is easy to sneer at the simple facts
and doctrines of Christianity； and to talk great swelling words about〃
mind；〃 and 〃thought；〃 and 〃intellect；〃 and 〃reason。〃 But there is no
getting over the broad fact that it is the body and not the mind； and
the wants of the body； by which the world is governed。
Statesmen and politicians know this full well； and often to their cost。
Their tenure of office depends in great measure on the contentment of
the people。 And who does not know that nothing creates popular
discontent so much as high prices of corn； and general dearness of food
for the body？
Merchants and ship…owners； of all men in the world； ought to know the
importance of the body。 Corn； and meat； and sugar； and tea； to feed the
body；cotton and wool to clothe the body；what are these but the very
articles which create the main portion of the merce； and carrying
trade； and business of a nation？
It would be waste of time to multiply arguments on this subject。 In the
face of such facts as these； it is the highest wisdom； both in the
Church and the State； never to forget the importance of the body。 To
promote cleanliness； and temperance； and social purity；to aim at the
highest standard of sanitary arrangements； into encourage every
movement which can increase the health and longevity of a people；to
provide as far as possible good air； good water； good dwellings； and
cheap food for every man； woman； and child in the land；these are
objects which deserve the best attention both of the Christian and the
man of the world。
There is a mine of deep truth in the saying； 〃Sanitas sanitatum： omnia
sanitas。〃 Whatever students and bookworms and philosophers may please
to say； there is an indissoluble connection between the bodies and
minds and souls of mankind。 You cannot separate them。 Not one of the
three can be safely neglected。 The Church； which only cares for saving
souls； and the State； which only cares for educating minds； are both
making a vast mistake。 Happy is that country where body； soul； and mind
are all eared for； and a continual effort made to provide for the
health of all three。
II。 The other remark which I wish to make is this： Observe the honour
which our Lord Jesus Christ has put on the medical profession。
It is a noteworthy fact； to begin with； that one of the four men whom
our Lord chose to write the Gospels was a 〃physician。〃 Not only does
ecclesiastical history； with almost entire harmony； tell us this； but
there is strong internal evidence in St。 Luke's writings to confirm it。
An ingenious writer has lately published a book which proves that many
Greek phrases and expressions used in the third Gospel and the Acts are
thoroughly medical； and such as a physician of that age would use in
describing the symptoms of disease； or of returning health。 In short；
there is little room for doubt that out of the twenty…seven books which
make up the little volume of the New Testament； two of the longest e
from the pen of a medical man。
But； after all； there is another fact of even deeper significance which
demands attention。 I refer to the very large number of the cases of
sickness and disease which our Lord Jesus Christ was pleased to heal
during the period of His earthly ministry。 No doubt； if He had thought
fit； He could have shown His Divine power； and proved His Divine
mission； by miracles like the plagues of Egypt； by calling fire from
heaven like Elijah； by causing the earth to open and swallow up His
enemies； as Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up in the wilderness。 But
He did not do so。 The great majority of His wondrous works were works
of mercy wrought on the suffering bodies of men and women。 To cure the
leprous； the dropsical； the palsied； the fevered； the lame； the blind；
was the continual labour of love of Him who was 〃God manifest in the
flesh。〃 To use the deep and mysterious words quoted from Isaiah by St。
Matthew； 〃 Himself took our infirmities； and bare our sicknesses〃
（Matt。 8：17）。
Now why was this？ Why did our Lord adopt this line of action； and
habitually condescend to devote time and attention to the humbling and
often loathsome ills to which flesh is heir？ Partly； I believe； to
remind us that He came to remedy the fall of man； and that of all the
consequences of the fall； none cause so much trouble； and affect all
ranks and classes of society so thoroughly； as sickness。 But partly
also； I believe； to teach Christians in every age； that to minister to
the sick is eminently a work of mercy according to Christ's mind。 He
that endeavours to check disease； to alleviate suffering； to lessen
pain； to help the self…curative powers of nature； and to lengthen life；
may surely take fort in the thought； that； however much he may fail；
he is at any rate walking in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth。 Next
to the office of him who ministers to men's souls； there is none really
more useful and honourable than that of him who ministers to the soul's
frail tabernacle the body。
He that thinks of these things will not wonder that the rise and
progress of Christianity in every age has done much for the office of
the physician。 That nothing was known of medicine or surgery before the
Christian era； it would be unfair to say。 The names of Podalirius and
Machaon in Homer； the better…known； less mythical name of Hippocrates
（no mean observer of symptoms）； are familiar to students。 But it is a
certain fact that the sick were never so systematically cared for； and
the medical profession so honourably esteemed； as they have been since
the Church of Christ leavened the world。 The builders of the Parthenon
and Colosseum built no infirmaries。 You will find no ruins of hospitals
at Athens or Rome。 The infidel； the sceptic； and the agnostic may sneer
at Bible religion if they please； but they cannot get over the fact
that medical and surgical knowledge have always advanced side by side
with the gospel of Christ。 Clever and ingenious as the heathen
inhabitants of India； China； and Japan are at this day； it is notorious
that their acquaintance with anatomy and materia medica； and their
treatment of bodily diseases； are beneath contempt。
Few of us； perhaps； realize what an immense debt we owe in Christian
England to the medical profession。 How much the fort of our lives
depends on it； and how vastly different is the condition of those whose
lot is cast in a heathen country； or an 〃uncivilized back settlement of
a colony！ He that has a good servant in his house； and a good doctor
within reach； ought to be a thankful man。
Fewer still； I believe； realize what enormous s
