down, and so prevent his working altogether, or for a season, at least.  Whereas, if he exhausts no more energy than he can recover by sleep and food and rest, at the time he can go steadily forward, and by doing so, accomplish a great deal more, in the long run, than he would by temporary extravagant exertion.  When speaking on this subject, I sometimes say that I use my body as I should use a horse, if I had one—­that is, I should not seek to get the most labour out of him for a week, regardless of the future, but I should feed and manage him with a view to getting the most I could get out of him all the year round.  That is, doubtless, the way a man should use his body, and to do this he should take as much time for his food and daily rest as is necessary to replace the energies he has used up by his work.

“In the leisure taken for this purpose, it will be necessary to have specified hours, as otherwise, those who are without principle will take advantage of the weak, and anything like system will be impossible.

“Then, again, when the proper performance of a particular task depends upon the united labour of a number of individuals, who have agreed to work in co-operation, it will be necessary, in the interests of the whole, that each should conform to the regulations laid down, always supposing that such rules are in harmony with truth and righteousness.

     “The wishes and interests of employers have also to be taken into
     consideration.  But, in every case, the principle is equally
     obligatory upon all.

“These duties will demand, and must have devoted to them, a measure of the time at our control.  What that amount of time shall be, must be determined by the relative importance of those duties.  For instance:—­

“There is the work a man can do for his earthly employers, over and above the amount that is considered to be a strict and just return for his wages.  Here, again, he must be guided by Jesus Christ’s rule, and to do unto his master as he would that his master should do unto him.

“There is the work that he ought to do for his family, apart and beyond the bare earnings of their daily bread.  This is work which no one else can do so well, and which, if it be neglected by him, will probably not be done at all.

“There is the effort that every workman should put forth for his own personal improvement.  For instance, a youth of seventeen works, we will say, ten hours a day for his employer, who would very much like him to put in another hour at the same task, and would be willing to pay him extra for doing so.  This, we will suppose, the youth could do without any injurious effect to his health.  But then, by reading his Bible, or cultivating his mind, he might qualify himself to become an Officer, or to fill some other important position, in either case fitting himself