But the use and not the neglect or abuse of the faculties is the observance of the laws of God and Nature.  If neglect and misuse of our faculties lead to loss of power, so their abuse leads to bad conduct and its pains and penalties.  What has been here termed moderation, as a medium between neglect, use and abuse, is really obedience to the laws of God and Nature.

The whole secret of health, happiness and longevity lies then in this simple observance, if it can only be fully understood, appreciated in all its importance, and carried out in all the smallest details of life.  As such perfection is rare, and somewhat difficult to attain—­the trials and temptations of life being so great—­so are none of the results here enumerated often arrived at; but that is no reason why man should not endeavour to reach as near perfection as possible, and enjoy as much health and happiness as he can.  One of the most common and one of the greatest errors is to suppose that happiness is to be obtained by the pursuit of pleasure and excitement.  The temporary enjoyment created by such is inevitably followed by reaction—­lassitude and weariness—­and human nature is palled by the surfeit of amusement as much as it is by the luxuries of the table.  There cannot be a more humiliating spectacle than that of the man of the world, as he is called, or the woman of fashion or pleasure.  Blase is too considerate an expression.  Such persons are worn-out prematurely in body, mind and intellect—­they are soulless and unsympathetic—­the wrecks of the noble creatures God created as man and woman in all the simplicity of their nature.

It is surely worth while, then, considering whether the enjoyment of health and happiness is not worth a little study and a little sacrifice of the vain and imaginary pleasures of the world.  There is no doubt that some amount of restraint and some power of self-control are requisite to ensure moderation.  But the disdain of many pleasures is a chief part of what is commonly called wisdom.

It is with waking and sleeping, with talking and walking, with eating and drinking, with toil and labour, with all the acts of life, that moderation or obedience to the laws of Nature requires some little sacrifice in their observance; but it is quite certain that without this obedience there is neither health nor happiness nor longevity.

SONNET.

    Who said that there were slaves?  There may be men
    In bondage, bought or sold:  there are no slaves
    Whilst God looks down, whilst Christ’s most pure blood laves
    The black man’s sins; whilst within angel ken
    He bears his load and drags his iron chain. 
    The slaves are they whom, on His Judgment Day,
    God shall renounce for aye and cast away. 
    Oh, Jesus Christ!  Thou wilt give justice then! 
    A drop of blood shall seem a swelling sea,
    More piercing than a cry the