Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/48

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ordinatedly indulged. When we speak of temperance at the present day, many persons understand us to allude to abstinence from intoxicating drinks; but temperance extends much further than this. It should guide the whole of our conduct, regulate our passions, set bounds to our feelings, and direct our amusements. The intemperate man is not one who merely indulges in intoxicating drinks: he is the eater of inordinate meats; the votary of inordinate passions; and the seeker of inordinate amusements. The covetous, the frivolously fashionable, the pleasure-seeker, are all intemperate. Let us, therefore, while we seek all the Christian virtues, take care that Temperance goes before and guides the whole.


September Fourteenth.

THE POWER OF THE SOUL OVER THE BODY.

"It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing."John vi. 63.

I WILL relate to you a circumstance, which will furnish you with matter for reflection. Our brother Sennadius, well known to us all as an eminent physician, and whom we especially love, whose piety and active benevolence you are well acquainted with, could yet, nevertheless, as he has lately narrated to us, by no means bring himself to believe in a life after death. Now (God, doubtless, not willing that his soul should perish), there appeared to him one night in a dream, a radiant youth of noble aspect, who bade him follow him; and as Sennadius obeyed, they came to a city, where, on the right side, he heard a chorus of the most