Twenty-Four Short Sermons On The Doctrine Of Universal Salvation | Page 2

of such a temperament, that neither
misfortune, nor any outward circumstances, that agitated the world,
could disturb their heaven-born repose.
Thus we see that the path of duty, enjoined in the sacred scriptures, is
not only the path of peace and joy, but conducts to a good old age. The
goodness of the Divine Being is most strikingly exemplified in uniting
health and temperance, happiness and longevity, and our duty to our
fellow creatures, all in one.
Long life and good days, however, depend more upon the state of our
minds than upon almost any other circumstance. He who lives in fear
and trouble arising from any cause whatever; whether from
contemplation of endless misery in the future world, or from the
apprehension that his earthly prospects will be blasted and his fortune
laid in ruins--or if he is continually involved in quarrels, broils and
tumults with his neighbors, has but little prospect of living to old age,
and certainly no hope of seeing good days. He is in a constant hell.
Here then we see the beauty and propriety of our text: "What man is he
that desireth life and loveth many days that he may see good? Keep thy
tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile; depart from evil and
do good; seek peace and pursue it."
The first condition for a long life is, "keep thy tongue from evil and thy
lips from speaking guile." But the question arises, in what sense can the
violation of that condition have any effect upon the length of life? The
answer is at hand--the slanderer is ever a busy body in other men's
matters. He is secretly endeavoring to injure his neighbors. He
circulates falsehoods about them from house to house. One and another
hears the reports put into circulation. They call upon the author for an
explanation of his conduct. Involved in trouble, arising from fear, guilt
and mortification, he tells a thousand falsehoods to clear up one. All
this preys upon his inmost vitals, while perhaps with another, whom he
has slandered, he is involved in a quarrel, and it terminates in a settled
hatred; and a third case becomes an incurable distemper of rancour and
revenge. Here is a man who by slander has rendered his existence

wretched. He is like the troubled ocean whose waters find no rest.
There is but little hope of his reaching the common age of man. Instead
of seeing good days he is walking in the regions of night and wo. Says
the wise man, "where there is no fuel the fire goeth out, so where there
is no tattler, strife ceaseth." Yes, "where there is envying and strife,
there is confusion and every evil work."
Violent anger excites powerfully the caloric in the human system, boils
the blood, and in this state throws it suddenly upon the brain. The
powerful shock propels it instantly to the exterior surface, and
torrent-like contracts it back again in redoubled fury upon the brain,
and leaves the countenance pale and ghastly. It deranges in a great
measure the mind, and unfits it for useful action. It darts its electric fire
of vengeance along the optic nerve, expands the retina, and gives to
every object a magnified and false appearance, while the very eye-balls
by a wild and savage glare proclaim the dreadful storm that is raging
within, and pouring the poisonous streams of premature death through
all the healthful channels of existence! It suddenly braces the nervous
system, and then on the opposite extreme leaves it depressed and
weakened. It gradually brings on rheumatic complaints, and lays the
whole system open to the most formidable and painful disorders that
afflict the human race. It cannot have escaped medical observation that
fevers and consumptions are much more frequent among persons who
are very irritable and exercise little or no rule over their passions, than
among those who are of a mild temperament, either naturally, or from
early restraint and education.
There is a connexion between the mind and the body so subtle that it
has hitherto eluded the eagle-eye of Physiology, and will perhaps
remain inscrutible forever to human comprehension. But that this
connexion exists is fully demonstrated by medical experience, and
observation. Many bodily disorders derange the mind, and have in
many instances totally destroyed it. So on the other hand diseases of the
mind effect the body in return, and _grief, despair_ and melancholy
have so preyed upon the vitals as to emaciate the body, and bring it to
the grave. It is not uncommon that consumptions are brought on by

trouble of mind, by guilt, and by melancholy and grief. And many
instances have occurred, where persons in excessive violent anger have
dropped down dead. What is so dreadful, when carried to