Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Health Institute 513there would be danger of imitating them in many things and losingsight of the exalted character of this great work. And should thoseconnected with this enterprise cease to look at their work from a highreligious standpoint, and descend from the exalted principles of presenttruth to imitate in theory and practice those at the head of institutionswhere the sick are treated only for the recovery of health, the specialblessing of God would not rest upon our institution more than uponthose where corrupt theories are taught and practiced.I saw that a very extensive work could not be accomplished ina short time, as it would not be an easy matter to find physicianswhom God could approve and who would work together harmoniously,disinterestedly, and zealously for the good of suffering humanity. Itshould ever be kept prominent that the great object to be attainedthrough this channel is not only health, but perfection, and the spiritof holiness, which cannot be attained with diseased bodies and minds.This object cannot be secured by working merely from the worldling’sstandpoint. God will raise up men and qualify them to engage in thework, not only as physicians of the body, but of the sin-sick soul, asspiritual fathers to the young and inexperienced.I was shown that the position of Dr. E in regard to amusements was [555]wrong, and that his views of physical exercise were not all correct. Theamusements which he recommends hinder the recovery of health inmany cases to one that is helped by them. He has to a great degree condemnedphysical labor for the sick, and his teaching in many cases hasproved a great injury to them. Such mental exercise as playing cards,chess, and checkers excites and wearies the brain and hinders recovery,while light and pleasant physical labor will occupy the time, improvethe circulation, relieve and restore the brain, and prove a decided benefitto the health. But take from the invalid all such employment, andhe becomes restless, and, with a diseased imagination, views his caseas much worse than it really is, which tends to imbecility.For years I have from time to time been shown that the sick shouldbe taught that it is wrong to suspend all physical labor in order to regainhealth. In thus doing the will becomes dormant, the blood movessluggishly through the system and constantly grows more impure.Where the patient is in danger of imagining his case worse than itreally is, indolence will be sure to produce the most unhappy results.Well-regulated labor gives the invalid the idea that he is not totally