216
Healthful Living
did not do, because by his own voluntary act he weakened his physical
and mental powers by selfish indulgence.—
Testimonies for the Church
5:442
.
The Physician’s Relation to His Patients
1119. He will not look upon his patient as a mere piece of human
mechanism, but as a soul to be saved or lost.—
Testimonies for the
Church 5:445
.
[267]
1120. Unless the physicians can obtain the confidence of their
patients, they can never help them.—
Testimonies for the Church 3:79
.
1121. Never should a physician neglect his patients.—
Unpublished
Testimonies
.
1122. The work of the Christian physician does not end with
healing the maladies of the body; his efforts should extend to the
diseases of the mind, to the saving of the soul. It may not be his duty,
unless asked, to present any theoretical points of truth, but he may
point his patients to Christ. The lessons of the divine Teacher are ever
appropriate. He should call the attention of the repining to the ever
fresh tokens of the love and care of God, to his wisdom and goodness
as manifested in his created works. The mind can then be led through
nature up to nature’s God, and centered on the heaven which he has
prepared for those who love him.—
Testimonies for the Church 5:443
.
1123. Physicians who would be successful in the treatment of
disease should know how to minister to a diseased mind.—
Testimonies
for the Church 3:169
.
1124. It should be the work of the God-fearing physician to guide
the mind of patients to right principles. If patients are left to their own
natural bias, they will indulge appetite, because it is a habit, at the
expense of health and life.... True, their appetite craves unwholesome
articles of food, and the disuse of these things will be felt strongly.
But the only right course to be pursued in these cases is to educate the
conscience, to lay before the patients the effect of these things upon
the physical and mental powers to weaken the constitution and induce
[268]
disease.—
Unpublished Testimonies, February 1, 1888
.
1125. Let your influence be persuasive, binding people to your
heart because you love Jesus, and because these precious souls are his
purchased possession. This is a great work. If, by your Christ-like