Responsibilities of the Physician
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infidel. This kind of persecution they were not prepared to meet. They
were ambitious to climb higher in the world, and they stumbled on the
dark mountains of unbelief and became untrustworthy. Temptations
of every kind opened before them, and they had no strength to resist.
Some of these have become dishonest, scheming policy men and are
guilty of grave sins.
In this age there is danger for everyone who shall enter upon
the study of medicine. Often his instructors are worldly-wise men
and his fellow students infidels, who have no thought of God, and
he is in danger of being influenced by these irreligious associations.
Nevertheless, some have gone through the medical course and have
remained true to principle. They would not continue their studies on
the Sabbath, and they have proved that men may become qualified
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for the duties of a physician and not disappoint the expectations of
those who furnish them means to obtain an education. Like Daniel,
they have honored God, and He has kept them. Daniel purposed in
his heart that he would not adopt the customs of kingly courts; he
would not eat of the king’s meat nor drink of his wine. He looked
to God for strength and grace, and God gave him wisdom and skill
and knowledge above that of the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the
magicians of the kingdom. To him the promise was verified: “Them
that honor Me I will honor.”
The young physician has access to the God of Daniel. Through
divine grace and power he may become as efficient in his calling
as Daniel was in his exalted position. But it is a mistake to make a
scientific preparation the all-important thing, while religious principles,
that lie at the very foundation of a successful practice, are neglected.
Many are lauded as skillful men in their profession who scorn the
thought that they need to rely upon Jesus for wisdom in their work. But
if these men who trust in their knowledge of science were illuminated
by the light of heaven, to how much greater excellence might they
attain! How much stronger would be their powers, with how much
greater confidence could they undertake difficult cases! The man who
is closely connected with the Great Physician of soul and body has the
resources of heaven and earth at his command, and he can work with
a wisdom, an unerring precision, that the godless man cannot possess.
Those to whom the care of the sick is entrusted, whether as
physicians or nurses, should remember that their work must stand