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imagination is at fault. And there is a deficiency<br />
everywhere which seriously affects those with<br />
whom they live, and who associate with them.<br />
These feel mortification and regret because these<br />
things are known by another.<br />
I have mentioned these cases to illustrate the<br />
power of this soul-and-body-destroying vice. The<br />
entire mind is given up to low passion. The moral<br />
and intellectual are over- borne by the baser<br />
powers. The body is enervated, the brain is<br />
weakened. The material there deposited to nourish<br />
the system is squandered. The drain upon the<br />
system is great. The fine nerves of the brain, by<br />
being excited to unnatural action, become<br />
benumbed and in a measure paralyzed. The moral<br />
and intellectual are growing weaker, while the<br />
animal passions are growing stronger, and being<br />
more largely developed by exercise. The appetite<br />
for unhealthful food clamors for indulgence. It is<br />
impossible to fully arouse the moral sensibilities of<br />
those persons who are addicted to the habit of selfabuse,<br />
to appreciate eternal things. You cannot lead<br />
such to delight in spiritual exercises. Impure<br />
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