p. 4 | Thoughts From an Old Book by W. T. Bartlett

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 2, 1912

Thoughts From an Old Book

By W. T. Bartlett

W. T. BARTLETT

The rise of the health reform movement in recent years has been responsible for no small addition to the output of literature, much of it, no doubt, very helpful and valuable to the student of physical culture. For myself I have lately found considerable interesting information in an effort to ascertain what the oldest of books had to say on the subject.

I find that it represents our physical construction, and very credibly so, as the product of much skill on the part of the Maker. One contributor to the volume expresses his sense of the fact in this language: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” He goes on to speak of his bodily material as wrought into members and fashioned in execution of a plan that comprises

in itself so many and so unsearchable thoughts that it would be as hopeless to recount them all as to number the sands of the seashore. This is doubtless one reason why it takes so many books and pamphlets to-day to open up to us the science of hygiene and dietetics.

I find in the old Book a general insistence on the idea that its Author is none other than the Architect of the human frame, and that his counsels must be followed closely if the organism is to be preserved in proper condition and efficiency. The words of the Book are referred to by one pithy writer as life to those that find them, and health, or medicine, to all their flesh. He also asserts that to fear the Lord and depart from evil will prove health to the organs of digestion and to the marrow of the bones. I do not know that many modern writers study physiology in this interesting way, but I have noticed that some do dwell upon the close connection between mind and body, and hold that the health of the one is favorable to the health of the other. So it is possible that some who suffer bad health might find improvement in mending their ways. If the old Volume is correct in its account of our making, and the reason why we were made, it certainly would be only natural that health should depend in an important measure on our respecting the wishes and intentions of our Maker.

He seems, according to the narrative, to have succeeded at one time in keeping a large body of men, women, and children in excellent condition for forty years, except for occasional outbreaks for which he does not appear to have been responsible. At the beginning of that experience he laid down the law of health in these words: “If thou wilt diligently harken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

I do not know that we can afford, even in this twentieth century, to dismiss the venerable proposition with contempt. If we ourselves had found some other way of banishing disease, we might; but with so much ill health ravaging our country, in spite of our large and well-equipped body of medical men and sanitary inspectors, we at any rate are not the ones to heap scorn on the old suggestion. The plan seems to be particularly favorable, too, for people of small means, who have to be contented with a meager bill of fare, according to this quotation: “Ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.”

Of course, the reference to this somewhat limited bill of fare may mean that the Lord finds it easier to bless bread and water than some of the preparations that he sees on our tables. Or it may be specially for the encouragement of those who indulge an unbelieving suspicion that if a man did begin to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord, and do what was right in his sight, he would soon be reduced to bread and water.

There is one good feature about the system of health culture recommended in the old Book. It does not fix your mind on yourself and your own health, but requires you rather to think of the health of others if you seek it for yourself. “The tongue of the wise is health,” it says. Most of us are convinced that the statement inverted is true enough, for it certainly makes us feel ill to hear some people talk. Here is another hint: “A good report maketh the bones fat.”

If one is conscious that his own bones lack fatness, he is not, however, to wait until some one comes along to cheer him up. There is a more expeditious method. Get to work to cheer some one else. “Deal thy bread to the hungry.” “Bring the poor that are cast out to thy house.” “When thou seest the naked, cover him.” “And thine health shall spring forth speedily.” “And the Lord shall make fat thy bones.”

There certainly seems to be a practical, good-natured, warm-blooded element in the commandments of the Lord, and some personal testimonies in the Book suggest that considerable satisfaction can be derived from them, if only one regards their essential principle, and does it for the good of others rather than his own. Here is one hearty testimonial:—

“How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life.”

London, England.