you will likewise believe, that He who heals men's souls heals also their bodies. To secure a patient twenty years of indifferent health in this world, is a small matter, compared with securing him an eternity of perfect health in the world to come. The faithful clergyman reaps the reward of our profession as well as of his own. For every soul won to Christ there is also a body made certain of immortal health. The physician who saves the souls of his patients, in the truest sense of the words, heals and saves their bodies also. In his hands his art is no failure; its triumph is complete. Death does not mark his patients as beyond his art; but seals them as for ever cured. He may have a tomb without satire on his profession, and on it may be written, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." A Christian physician, going about his vocation as a Christian, and earnestly fulfilling its duties as one working with the great Taskmaster's eye upon him, has truly a high calling. He has the promise of all needful help in this world, and the assurance of an abounding reward in the next. Of all God's people it is affirmed that they shall rest from their labours, but to Christian physicians we may specially apply the further declaration, that "their works do follow them." The spirits of just S men made perfect will surround them in glory; their patients and disciples upon earth; their fellowsaints in heaven. In conclusion, let me address to you one parting word. I have said nothing concerning Medical Missions and their claim on your attention, and I say nothing now. It is vain to expect that those who care not for the souls of the sick at home, will care for the souls of the sick in Syria or China. And, on the other hand, it is certain, that if the whole profession were Christianized, and each medical man laboured as having a cure of souls as well as of bodies, Medical Missions would be amply supported, and Medical Missionaries be found in abundance. We should all be Medical Missionaries, whether we practise among the rich or the poor, the wise or the ignorant, among nominal Christians or undoubted Pagans. Therefore, I adjure you, to remember that the head of our profession is CHRIST. He left all men an example that they should follow His steps, but He left it specially to us. It is well that the statues of Hippocrates and Esculapius should stand outside of our College of Physicians, but the living image of our Saviour should be enshrined in our hearts. The symbol of our vocation is the Serpent, but it should be thought of not merely as a classical emblem, but as recalling the words of him who said, "be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." All men are to call Christ, Lord and Master, but especially we. He was not only the Great Physician, who healed all manner of sickness and disease, but the Great Patient, the Mighty Sufferer, who endured agonies such as no other human sufferer ever felt, and whose agonies were more momentous in their consequences than any others the universe has witnessed. The object of His whole earthly life was the same as ours, the abolishment, namely, of pain and of death; and he ranks before us all, because what we 'vainly strive to effect he fully achieved. We are the Ministers of Life. He is the Prince of Life. We fight against death, and are all defeated. Death assailed him, and he vanquished death. We cannot so much as prevent death, but he could not only forbid it, but could restore to life and health the body overcome not only by death but tainted by corruption. On all other men the victory of death has been complete, but death had no dominion over him. He gave to death what death could not take from him, and laid down his life, only that he might take it again. He is the first-begotten of the dead. He brought life and immortality to light. He is the Resurrection and the Life. This great Physician! this great sufferer! this vanquisher of death! this possessor and granter of an endless life! this sinless son of man, and only begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, God over all, is the true head of our profession. He is not ashamed to call us brethren. May none of us be ashamed to call him Lord. May we all confess him before men, that he may confess us before the angels in heaven, |