He can take up, and apply the triumphant reasoning of Paul: If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not, with him, also, freely give as all things.

When such a principle is in vigorous exercise in a man's bosom, what inferior passion will dare to lift its puny arm to make war therein! And the serenity, cheerfulness, and stability, which it inspires, exert a mightier power in the prevention and cure of diseases, than any prescription the physician's Dispensatory can furnish. Yea, and when nature grapples with her last enemy, it is this principle alone, that enables the soul still to triumph; and amid the ruins of the body, to exclaim, O Death, where is thy sting! O Grave, where is thy victory!

LECTURE VIII.

PART III. EMPLOYMENT.

Influence of different Employments upon Health. Literary pursuits favorable to Health. Study: best posture of the body; best time of day for its prosecution; night study injurious: Means of preserving the Eyes: Recreation from study-Active benevolent Enterprises-Light Reading-Social Intercourse-MuGeneral Inferences.

sic.

With this Lecture, Gentlemen, I enter upon the third general branch of my subject, viz. Employment. Without much impropriety, indeed, I might perhaps have treated of this under the head of Regimen. Still, in the case of the student, it seems desirable to bring forward his daily avocations in bold relief; since these exert so important an influence upon his health. And this can be done most effectually, by considering literary pursuits as a prominent and distinct branch of the general subject.

Although it is a matter of every day's experience and remark, that some occupations are more favorable to health and long life, than others: yet but few accurate observations have been made to determine definitely the amount of influence that is thus exerted. The following statements, however, will give some idea of the subject.

In Hamburgh, in Holland, it was ascertained that the proportion of deaths among the tailors, was about one in every nine; among the cabinet makers, about

one in 25; and among the barbers, nearly one in 18.* Of 424 individuals, who lived over 80 years, there were, according to Schroter,

But the character of my audience renders it unnecessary for me to dwell upon any occupation, that is not essentially literary. I shall, therefore, direct my remarks,

In the first place, to the subject of study; and
In the second place, to recreation from study.

There exists a prevalent cpinion, that literary pursuits are peculiarly unfavorable to health. The active part of society make this inference, from the facts that so many students are complaining of bad health; and so many others are compelled to abandon their books and the student himself comes to such a : clusion, from an unwillingness to acknowledge that the failure of his health may more probably be imputed to his excesses in diet, or study, or neglect of exercise, than to the nature of his pursuits; because in the one case, the fault lies with himself; and in the

* Journal of Health, vol. I. p. 166.

con

other, it is a mere misfortune.

But I do not believe the opinion to be correct. Certainly to maintain the mind itself in a healthy state, it must have almost constant occupation-the more the better, if it do not fatigue. It is a want of such mental employment that gives rise to ennui, melancholy, and the whole train of depressing passions, accompanied by intellectual imbecility. Now a disordered mind will soon produce a disordered body. And what mental exertion, if properly made, can be more favorable to health, than the pursuits of literature and science? To every one, who deserves the name of a literary man, the acquisition of knowledge is an extraordinary pleasure: and this circumstance adds greatly to the good effect of study upon the bodily health; because no task is imposed. There is indeed, such a thing as an excessive attachment to books, which is injurious; because it leads to the neglect of every proper means of health: such was the enthusiasm of the English mathematician, when he exclaimed; Crede mihi, extingui dulce erit mathematicarum artium studio. Still a great degree of devotedness to learning, is not always unfavourable to longevity: "and," as a medical writer observes, “we have many instances on record, of men who have attained their century of years, retaining their intellectual faculties, and admiring mental acquirements with the avidity of youth."*

In support of the position, that literary pursuits are in themselves favourable to health, I might add, that while they afford a man all needful facilities for attention to diet and regimen, they enable him to avoid many of those exposures to wet, heat, cold, and excessive fa

*Manual for Invalids, p. 36.

tigue, to which the labouring classes are liable; and which are the exciting causes of a multitude of fatal diseases. They enable him, also, to adopt greater regularity in his mode of life, than can be done by others; and this is extremely favourable.

This view of the subject is supported by all medical, and other authorities. Says one of the former class; "to cultivate a love of literature and the fine arts, and to direct the taste to pursuits of usefulness, is very conformable both to health and happiness.*

Says another, of the latter class; "the time will come when the most cultivated and vigorous minds will be found connected with the most energetic bodies.

"The languid eye; the cheek

Deserted of its bloom; the flaccid, shrunk,
And wither'd muscle; and the vapid soul,"

ought as rarely to be found in our academic halls, as in the habitations of our hardy yeomanry. Sana mens in corpore sano, is, with proper management, emphatically the privilege of students. They may enjoy even better health than the most laborious. Alternation of bodily and mental effort will be found more favourable to health than the long continued muscular action, of the farmer and the mechanic. Studious men have more knowledge of the regimen essential to health, than others; and their situation for following it, is in general more favourable. That temperance in all things, which God has enjoined, especially in eating and drinking, united with that exercise of the mental and physical powers for which he made us, will be found to ensure the most perfect health."*

"The cultivation of the sciences," says the Journal

* Manual for Invalids, p. 49.

Frost's Qration.