5194 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, in the Clerk's Office of the District of Massachusetts. E PREFACE. THE great Creator has instituted certain laws for the government of the works of his hands. Thus the solar and planetary systems are governed by the law of gravitation; the growth of plants, by the law of vegetation; and of animals, by what may be called the law of animation. God has a system both of natural and moral laws for the government of the compound creature, man. If he violates a moral law of his Maker, he is guilty, and justly exposed to punishment. If he violates a natural law of his being, injury and suffering will be the consequence. It is a natural law of God that fire shall burn; and if I transgress and plunge my hand into the fire, I experience the natural consequence of that trangression, namely, pain and suffering. The same is the case with every other natural law of our being. There are certain laws of health, which must be observed, if we would have all our powers and organs, both of mind and body, in the most perfect and successful operation. The infant, ordinarily, comes into being with all the powers in embryo, or in miniature, for a vigorous mind in a strong body. But in order that he may possess both these on his arrival at manhood, and they all have their proper and natural development, he must be placed under the due observance of all the laws which conduce to give sana mens in sano corpore, to make a vigorous mind in a healthy body. Every bone, muscle, nerve, sinew-even the smallest vessel of the human body-has its appropriate use, just as much as the eye is adapted to seeing and the ear to hearing; and the more this exquisite workmanship, the human body, has been examined, the more traces of the wisdom and power of the Great Architect have been discovered; so that the expression of Israel's King seems perfectly appropriate, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Man was made to be happy-to enjoy himself and glorify his Maker. But the great object of his existence is but poorly answered by the scanty, imperfect development often given to his powers. Without due training, his energies will be crippled, and the end of his being, at the best, but partially answered. The irritation of the noble frame-work of man, frequently existing, is but poorly calculated to an |