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granted； and not dwell on them。 One is； that Luke here mentioned is the
same Luke who wrote the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles； and
was the friend and panion of St。 Paul。 The other is； that Luke
really was a physician of the body。 On both these points the consent of
learned men； who have a right to mand our attention； is almost
universal。 I shall rigidly confine myself to two remarks which appear
to grow out of the subject。 For it is a significant fact； I think； that
the great Apostle of the Gentiles； who was ever ministering to men's
souls； makes honourable mention of one who ministered to men's bodies。
I。 I remark then； for one thing； that one great feature of the
Christian religion is the dignity and importance which it attaches to
the human body。
Many readers of this paper need hardly be reminded that some of the
schools of heathen philosophers regarded the body with contempt； as a
hindrance and not a help； a clog and a drag and not an aid； to the
soul。 Even those nations which paid most attention to the burial of the
body when dead； like the Egyptians； Greeks； and Romans； knew nothing of
a future existence of the body after death； even at the most distant
period。 The heroes described by Homer and Viral； in the Elysian Fields；
the supposed place of happiness after death； were only ghosts and airy
figures； with nothing material about them。 When St。 Paul； on Mars Hill；
spoke of the 〃resurrection of the dead；〃 we are told that 〃some mocked〃
（Acts 17：32）。 Even Pliny； one of the most intelligent Latin writers； in
his Natural History； says there were two things which were beyond the
power of God；one was to give immortality to mortals； and the other
was to give bodily life again to the dead。 （See Pearson on The Creed；
vol。 ii。； p。 306； Oxford edition。）
Let us turn now to the Christian religion； and mark what a contrast it
presents。 Whether we look at its leading facts； or doctrines； or
practical instructions for the present； or hopes for the future； the
human body is continually brought to the front； and its importance
magnified。
（a） Look； to begin with； at the great mysterious truth which lies at
the foundation of our holy faith； the incarnation of Christ。 When the
Eternal Son of God came down into this sin…burdened world； to bring
redemption； and change the whole condition of our fallen race； how did
He e？ Not as a mighty angel or a glorious spirit； as we might have
expected。 Nothing of the kind！ He took on Him a bodily nature； just
like our own； sin only excepted。 He was born of a woman as an infant；
and had a body that grew and increased in stature as our bodies do；a
body that could hunger and thirst； and be weary and need sleep； and
feel pain； and groan in agony and suffering； like the body of any one
who reads this paper。 In that body He condescended to tabernacle for
thirty…three years； its members daily fulfilling the Law of God
perfectly； so that in His 〃flesh〃 Satan could find nothing failing or
defective （John 14：30）。
（b） Look； in the next place； at the great cardinal doctrine of Christ's
atonement。 That wondrous distinctive verity of our faith； that solution
of the problem； 〃how can sinful man have peace with God？ 〃is
indissolubly bound up with Christ's body。 It was the death of that body
on the cross which provided for fallen man a way of reconciliation with
God。 It was the precious lifeblood； which flowed from our Lord's
crucified body on Calvary； which purchased for us redemption from the
curse of a broken law。 In short； it is the blood of Christ's body to
which true Christians owe all their fort while they live； and their
hope when they die。
（c） Look； next； at the crowning facts of Christ's resurrection and
ascension into heaven。 When our Lord came forth from the gave where
Joseph and Nicodemus had laid Him； on the third day； He did not e
forth as a spirit。 To use the words of our Fourth Article； He 〃took
again His body； with flesh； bones； and all things appertaining to the
perfection of man's nature。〃 In that body He was seen and touched by
His disciples。 In that body He spoke； and ate； and drank like
ourselves。 And； finally； in that body He ascended into heaven； and
there sits till He returns to judge all men at the last day。 We have a
priest and advocate with the Father who has a body。
（d） Look； next； at the practical precepts and exhortations which the
Apostles are continually pressing on us in the New Testament。 Mark how
frequently they speak of the body and its members as 〃instruments of
righteousness；〃 as a part of the Christian's nature requiring his
constant care； and as a means of exhibiting his sanctification and
holiness。 〃Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost。〃〃 Glorify God
in body and spirit； which are His。〃〃 I pray God your whole spirit；
and soul； and body； may be preserved blameless。〃〃 Present your
bodies a living sacrifice。〃Let 〃Christ be magnified in my body。〃Let
the 〃life of Jesus be manifest in our mortal flesh。〃We shall 〃receive
the things done in the body。〃Where； indeed； and how； could the graces
of temperance； soberness； chastity； and self…denial be shown forth
except in and through the body？ （Rom。 6：13； 1 Cor。 6：19…20； 1 Thess。
5：23； Rom。 12：1； Phil。 1：20； 2 Cor。 4：11； 2 Cor。 5：10）。
（e） Look； finally； at that grand distinctive hope which sustains the
Christian amidst the deaths； and funerals； and pains； and partings； and
sufferings of this world。 That hope is the resurrection of the flesh
after death。 Our bodies shall live again。 The grave cannot hold them。
We part from those who fall asleep in Jesus in the blessed confidence
that we shall meet and see them again； better； stronger； more beautiful
than they ever were upon earth。 For ever let us thank God that the
glorious gospel which we profess to believe makes provision for our
bodies as well as our souls。
But； after all； the importance which Christianity attaches to the body
is not one whir greater than that which is continually attached to it
by the children of this world。 It is easy to sneer at the simple facts
and doctrines of Christianity； and to talk great swelling words about〃
mind；〃 and 〃thought；〃 and 〃intellect；〃 and 〃reason。〃 But there is no
getting over the broad fact that it is the body and not the mind； and
the wants of the body； by which the world is governed。
Statesmen and politicians know this full well； and often to their cost。
Their tenure of office depends in great measure on the contentment of
the people。 And who does not know that nothing creates popular
discontent so much as high prices of corn； and general dearness of food
for the body？
Merchants and ship…owners； of all men in the world； ought to know the
importance of the body。 Corn； and meat； and sugar； and tea； to feed the
body；cotton and wool to clothe the body；what are these but the very
articles which create the main portion of the merce； and carrying
trade； and business of a nation？
It would be waste of time to multiply arguments on this subject。 In the
face of such facts as these； it is the highest wisdom； both in the
Church and the State； never to forget the importance of the body。 To
promote cleanliness； and temperance； and social purity；to aim at the
highest standard of sanitary arrangements； into encourage every
movement which can increase the health and longevity of a people；to
provide as far as possible good air； good water； good dwellings； and
cheap food for every man； woman； and child in the land；these are
objects which deserve the best attention both of the Christian and the
man of the world。
There is a mine of deep truth in the saying； 〃Sanitas sanitatum： omnia
sanitas。〃 Whatever students and bookworms and philosophers may please
to say； there is an indissoluble connection between the bodies and
minds and souls of mankind。 You cannot separate them。 Not one of the
three can be safely neglected。 The Church； which only cares for saving
souls； and the State； which only cares for educating minds； are both
making a vast mistake。 Happy is that country where body； soul； and mind
are all eared for； and a continual effort made to provide for the
health of all three。
II。 The other remark which I wish to make is this： Observe the honour
which our Lord Jesus Christ has put on the medical profession。
It is a noteworthy fact； to begin with； that one of the four men whom
our Lord chose to write the Gospels was a 〃physician。〃 Not only does
ecclesiastical history； with almost entire harmony； tell us this； but
there is strong internal evidence in St。 Luke's writings to confirm it。
An ingenious writer has lately published a book which proves that many
Greek phrases and expressions used in the third Gospel and the Acts are
thoroughly medical； and such as a physician of that age would use in
describing the sym