Health Institute
155
I was shown that a larger work could be accomplished if there were
gentlemen physicians of the right stamp of mind who had proper cul-
ture and a thorough understanding of every part of the work devolving
on a physician. The physicians should have a large stock of patience,
forbearance, kindliness, and pity; for they need these qualifications in
[168]
dealing with suffering invalids, who are diseased in body, and many of
whom are diseased both in body and in mind. It is not an easy matter
to obtain the right class of men and women, those who are fitted for
the place and who will work harmoniously, zealously, and unselfishly
for the benefit of suffering invalids. Men are wanted at the Institute
who will have the fear of God before them and who can minister to
sick minds and keep prominent the health reform from a religious
standpoint.
Those who engage in this work should be consecrated to God
and not make it their only object to treat the body merely to cure
disease, thus working from the popular physician’s standpoint, but
to be spiritual fathers, to minister to diseased minds, and point the
sin-sick soul to the never-failing remedy, the Saviour who died for
them. Those who are reduced by disease are sufferers in more than
one sense. They can endure bodily pain far better than they can bear
mental suffering. Many carry a violated conscience and can be reached
only by the principles of Bible religion.
When the poor, suffering paralytic was brought to the Saviour,
the urgency of the case seemed not to admit of a moment’s delay, for
already dissolution was doing its work upon the body. When those
who bore him upon his bed saw that they could not come directly into
the presence of Christ, they at once tore open the roof and let down the
bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay. Our Saviour saw and understood
his condition perfectly. He also knew that this wretched man had a
sickness of the soul far more aggravating than bodily suffering. He
knew that the greatest burden he had borne for months was on account
of sins. The crowd of people waited with almost breathless silence
to see how Christ would treat this case, apparently so hopeless, and
were astonished to hear the words which fell from His lips: “Son, be
of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”
These were the most precious words that could fall upon the ear of
[169]
that sick sufferer, for the burden of sin had lain so heavily upon him that
he could not find the least relief. Christ lifts the burden that so heavily