THE SPIRIT OF HEALTH PRINCIPLES.
By M. E. Olsen
“The body is dead, . . . but the spirit is life.” So said the apostle Paul, and his pregnant words may be applied to the principles of health. Take the divine life away from these principles, and they become dull, arbitrary rules, a veritable yoke of bondage, an instrument of death instead of the minister of life. The life of the health principles is Christ. The true motive for building up the strength and beauty of the body, is in order that it may be the fit temple of the Holy Spirit. The glory of God should be the uppermost thought in the mind of every intelligent creature. Now, the glory of God is His perfect character, of which His law, both natural and moral, is a revelation. Therefore the desire to glorify God impels one to seek to know and strictly obey the physical laws governing the health and well-being of the body. Quibbling over small matters is one way to take the life out of these great principles. Prescribing for others precisely the same rules as you have adopted for yourself is another way of losing the life and attractiveness of true health reform. Remember that principles are living things. If they are to thrive, they must have fit soil, and an abundant11supply of the divine sunshine. Moreover, they must be allowed to grow and adapt themselves to the circumstances, just like any other living thing. As soon as you have put a limit to the size of a given tree, you have pronounced its death sentence, for a tree can not live without growing. Just so, when you precisely define a divine principle, it becomes in your hands a dead thing. You may embalm and adorn it so that it may appear beautiful to the eye; but the action is wanting. The saving power is not there, and the thing is practically worthless. It is a very hard thing to live by rules; but it is a most easy and natural thing to live in accordance with divine, living, and life-giving principles. Health reform, while apparently pertaining especially to the physical organism, is essentially a spiritual matter. We put away fleshly lusts, not only as health-destroying, but also because they war against the soul. In fact, rightly considered, the interests of body and soul are identical. Correct physical habits and a pure diet help to build up a pure body, which is the only fit instrument of a pure soul. Because health principles are spiritual, we need the aid of the spirit in order properly to comprehend them. On a casual examination, many things may appear inconsistent; but prayerful, earnest, persevering study will reveal only beauty and harmony. That which Christians especially need to realize in these days, is the close connection between physical and spiritual things, and the obligation resting upon all to glorify God in their body as well as in spirit.