Produced by Sperry J. Russ
By John Bovee Dods Pastor of the First Universalist Society, in
Taunton, Massachusetts.
Boston: Printed By G. W. Bazin….Trumpet Office 1832.
********************************************************************
"What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days that he maysee good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile;depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalmxxxiv:12-14.
Self-preservation and the desire of protracting the momentary span oflife is the first principle of our nature, or is at least sointimately interwoven with our constitution as to appear inherent. Sopowerful is this desire, that in defiance of pain and misery, itseldom quits us to the last moments of our existence. To endeavor tolengthen out our lives is not only desirable, but is a duty enjoinedupon us in the scriptures, and is most beautifully and forciblyexpressed in our text.
We might here introduce many observations of a philosophical characteron air and climate, meat and drink, motion and rest, sleepingand watching, &c. and show how sensibly they contribute to health;and we might furnish many examples of long life, but we pass these,and proceed to notice the affections of the mind upon which our textis grounded.
The due regulation of the passions contributes more to health andlongevity than climate, or even the observance of any course of diet.Our Creator has so constituted our natures, that duty, health,happiness and longevity are inseparably blended in the same cup. Tosuppress, and finally subdue all the passions of malice, anger, envy,jealousy, hatred and revenge, and to exercise (till they becomefamiliar) all the noble passions of tenderness, compassion, love, hopeand joy, is a duty that heaven solemnly enjoins upon us, and in theperformance of which our years will be multiplied. But we must guardnot only our moral natures from the ravages of the corroding andrevengeful passions, but also our physical natures by observing thestrictest rules of temperance in eating, drinking, cleanliness andexercise.
The book of God commands us to "be temperate in all things." Theobservance of this duty gives us a firm constitution, robust health,and prepares us to participate in all the innocent and rationalenjoyments of life. Here we may witness the goodness of the DivineBeing in uniting our duty, happiness and interest in one; and sofirmly are they wedded together, and so absolutely does each dependupon the other that they cannot exist alone. They are alike laid inruins the moment they are separated. If we trace this idea stillfurther, we witness the same wise arrangement, and the sameincomprehensible skill and goodness of the Author of our being in theconstitution of our mental natures. In these also he has wholly unitedour duty, happiness and longevity in one. Jesus says, "Love yourenemies; bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, andpray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you, that yemay be the children of your Father in heaven." Paul says—"Let allbitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be putaway from you, with all malice, and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake hathforgiven you."
Here then is our duty plainly pointed out. If we will exercise thisspirit of benignity to our enemies, subdue all our revengefulpassions, and indulge a spirit of love