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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
which debilitates the system. The skin cannot perform its office;
the studied habit of shunning the air and avoiding exercise, closes
the pores,—the little mouths through which the body breathes,—
making it impossible to throw off impurities through that channel.
The burden of labor is thrown upon the liver, lungs, kidneys, etc.,
and these internal organs are compelled to do the work of the skin.
Thus persons bring disease upon themselves by their wrong habits;
yet, in the face of light and knowledge, they will adhere to their own
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course. They reason thus: “Have we not tried the matter? and do
we not understand it by experience?” But the experience of a person
whose imagination is at fault should not have much weight with
anyone.
The season most to be dreaded by one going among these invalids
is winter. It is winter indeed, not only outdoors, but in, to those who
are compelled to live in the same house and sleep in the same room.
These victims of a diseased imagination shut themselves indoors
and close the windows, for the air affects their lungs and their heads.
Imagination is active; they expect to take cold, and they will have
it. No amount of reasoning can make them believe that they do
not understand the philosophy of the whole matter. Have they not
proved it? they will argue. It is true that they have proved one side
of the question,—by persisting in their own course,—and yet they
do take cold if in the least exposed. Tender as babies, they cannot
endure anything; yet they live on, and continue to close the windows
and doors, and hover over the stove, and enjoy their misery. They
have surely proved that their course has not made them well, but
has increased their difficulties. Why will not such allow reason to
influence the judgment and control the imagination? Why not now
try an opposite course, and in a judicious manner obtain exercise
and air out of doors, instead of remaining in the house from day to
day, more like a bundle of drygoods than an active being?
The chief if not the only reason why many become invalids is
that the blood does not circulate freely, and the changes in the vital
fluid, which are necessary to life and health, do not take place. They
have not given their bodies exercise nor their lungs food, which
is pure, fresh air; therefore it is impossible for the blood to be
vitalized, and it pursues its course sluggishly through the system.
The more we exercise, the better will be the circulation of the blood.