Christlike Compassion
[
Testimonies for the Church 3:178-184
(1872).]
I was shown that the physicians at our Institute should be men and
women of faith and spirituality. They should make God their trust.
There are many who come to the Institute who have, by their own
sinful indulgence, brought upon themselves disease of almost every
type. This class do not deserve the sympathy that they frequently
require. And it is painful to the physicians to devote time and strength
to this class, who are debased physically, mentally, and morally.
But there is a class who have, through ignorance, lived in violation
of nature’s laws. They have worked intemperately and have eaten
intemperately, because it was the custom to do so. Some have suffered
many things from many physicians, but have not been made better, but
decidedly worse. At length they are torn from business, from society,
and from their families; and as their last resort, they come to the Health
Institute, with some faint hope that they may find relief. This class
need sympathy. They should be treated with the greatest tenderness,
and care should be taken to make clear to their understanding the
laws of their being, that they may, by ceasing to violate them, and
by governing themselves, avoid suffering and disease, the penalty of
nature’s violated law....
Remember Christ, who came in direct contact with suffering hu-
manity. Although, in many cases, the afflicted had brought disease
upon themselves by their sinful course in violating natural law, Jesus
pitied their weakness, and when they came to Him with disease the
most loathsome, He did not stand aloof for fear of contamination; He
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touched them and bade disease give back.
Healing the Lepers
“And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men
that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices,
and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them,
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