70
Counsels on Health
decay and poison the atmosphere. A yard beautified with trees and
shrubbery, at a proper distance from the house, has a happy, cheerful
influence upon the family, and, if well taken care of, will prove no
injury to health. Dwellings, if possible, should be built upon high and
dry ground. If a house is built where water settles around it, remaining
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for a time, and then drying away, a poisonous miasma arises, and fever
and ague, sore throat, lung diseases, and fevers will be the result.
Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness
merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not regard
their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by works. God
will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care
for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health and
make no efforts to prevent disease. When we do all we can on our part
to have health, then may we expect that the blessed results will follow,
and we can ask God in faith to bless our efforts for the preservation of
health. He will then answer our prayer, if His name can be glorified
thereby. But let all understand that they have a work to do. God will
not work in a miraculous manner to preserve the health of persons
who by their careless inattention to the laws of health are taking a sure
course to make themselves sick.