a book on health and longevity; but having been extensively benefited by the adoption of the plan he recommends to others, the author thinks he is perfectly justified, nay called upon, as a philanthropist and christian, to attempt to lead others into the same paths, knowing them to be safe and happy. While he makes no pretentions to medical science, he hopes he is guided by common sense, and a desire to do good. He cannot, therefore, consent to be reasoned or ridiculed out of his feelings and purposes; nor to believe that an illusion, the truth of which has been asserted by some of the most eminent of the faculty, and confirmed by the greatly improved health of himself and of thousands.

In the following pages the author has endeavoured to argue the questions at issue, without sophistry, in ja plain manner; and he hopes the reader, by trusting to his common sense, and drawing from the facts adduced such conclusions as are obviously inevitable, will be able to distinguish truth from error, and will resolutely choose the former for his guide. We have had enough of fine spun theories, subtle speculations, and metaphysical disquisitions; we want facts-STUBBORN FACTS, for these are the thumb of the right hand in argument. Indeed there can be no fair arguing without them. They are its basis-its starting point. To this standard we appeal: this is the pedestal upon which TRUTH must stand; because "all those so called arguments which are destitute of such foundational facts, are not arguments, but only noisy disputes-mere sonorous nothings." To all who can subscribe to this mode of judging of truth, we cheerfully dedicate the following facts and reasonings, patiently waiting their verdict.

As the author's object in the preparation of these sheets was, not originality or fame, but usefulness; he has in several instances, made use of facts and reasonings, which he had met with in his course of reading, and which he embodied with remarks of his own, in his

WELL on Divinity; and why not Ministers write on Health and Longevity?

common place book, without having appended the author's names; as at that time he merely wrote for his own guidance, and had not the most distant idea of offering his views to the public. Moreover, his desire being to call attention to a subject of vital importance, he thought it was of little moment whether he attained that object by presenting his views in the statements of others, or in language and figures which might be more properly denominated his own; believing that the name of an author can give little authority to what may be advanced. Good reasons require no authority, and bad ones derive no weight from any man's authority.

To all who are not familiar with the writings of Hufeland, Claridge, E. Johnson, Graham, Wilson, Courtney, Weiss, &c., it is presumed it will be an advan⚫ tage to be presented with their views: and even those who are, may be glad to have their memories refreshed, by meeting with their old friends, from whose pages we have largely drawn; and who may be read with great advantage. If those who are in the pursuit of health and longevity, would purchase the above works with the money they save by giving up all unnatural drinks, &c., and would occupy the time they ought to save from unnecessary and injurious sleep, in reading them, they would be wiser, BETTER, and HAPPIER. After reading, and carefully studying the above works, those who cannot avail themselves of the valuable advice and assistance of such men as Drs. E. Johnson, Lovell, &c. may, in all simple cases, adopt the plan here laid down for their treatment: and, if they will be guided by Reason, Nature, and Facts, they will have no complicated, or chronic diseases to cure.

In conclusion, if these pages should contribute, in any small degree, to afford useful hints, or call attention to this much neglected subject, the author's end, will be gained, and his labour amply repaid.

Union Chapel, Hayes,

W. HORSELL.

Middlesex. 1845,

INTRODUCTION.

Non est vivere sed valere vita.

Life is only life when blessed with HEALTH.

THE present is emphatically a day of enquiry. Nothing is now taken for granted. Even children must know why certain things are done. Nothing is regarded as being right because established, or good because antiquated. Every thing must submit to the test of searching investigation: and we see the result of this spirit of the times. Antiquated notions and established usages and systems are crumbling to atoms. The minds of men are like a great sea, the waters of which are in incessant motion. Science and literature are no longer pent up in a few Colleges, Royal Societies, or inaccessible volumes: from being the greatest of distinctions, they are now become popular. Their portals are no longer guarded by a dark phraseology, but having left their retreat, they have begun the work of instructing THE PEOPLE.

It is not only a day of enquiry, but also of extraordinary activity. Idleness is neither characteristic of the pious, or the impious-of those who are really right, or positively wrong. A. Fuller

was right when he said, "It is an affecting truth that nothing stands still-all things are at work -in the natural, moral," intellectual, and commercial "world." But if these remarks were B

*

applicable to his time, how much more so to ours." As men see and feel the force of truth, or what they believe to be truth, they seek with diligence to extend its influence. All are at work, in the church and the world-above and beneath; and all this various movement tends to universality and diffusion.

Among the other Christian and benevolent institutions of the day, which are the glory of our land, is the Temperance Reformation, which has already, amidst much opposition, accomplished a large amount of good, directly, in the reclaimation of thousands of drunkards; and indirectly, perhaps still more, in checking the drinking habits of the community. By the multitude these effects have been unappreciated, because to a great extent unnoticed, or if noticed, they have not been attributed to their proper cause. But to those who have promoted, and anxiously prayed for, and watched its progress, and been familiar

That these are truly wondrous days, look at that 'GREAT FACT.' the ANTI CORN LAW LEAGUE, which aims to increase the size of the poor man's loaf. Last year (44) they raised £50,000; now they ask for £100,000, and they will get it. The Dissenters zeal, has aroused the Church of England, into activity, in the work of Education, and her friends have raised near £200,000 for that object, and will yet do much more. The Wesleyans, after raising £221,000 for their Centenary Fund, have now undertaken to provide £200,000 more for Schools. The Independents, propose to have a Day School attached to every chapel, to accomplish which they have resolved to raise the sum of £250,000, (quarter of a million,) in 5 years. Then comes the Free Church of Scotland, consisting of 500 ministers, backed by a Million of their people, who have spurned the state of yoke, and asserted their claim to perfect liberty of conscience. They have already raised £200,000 to build places of worship;-£100,000 more for the support of their ministers, and now they ask the religious world to assist them to raise £300,000 more. What do these facts betoken? but earnestness! power!! and intelligence!!! in the people, such as was never before known. And the ends are even more noble than the meansthey are FREEDOM, KNOWLEDGE, and RELIGION.

with its multifarious and benevolent bearings, they are palpable and glorious. The general impression against drunkenness has been deepened; the public mind has been enlightened as to the deceitful and deleterious properties of alcoholic drinks; genteel society is veering round in favor of sobriety; and the nation at large is now convinced of the necessity and importance of the Temperance Reformation. Thousands of men, once degraded and wretched in the extreme, are now become sober and happy. Thousands of youth, it is believed, are now so well informed, and so much influenced by temperance proceedings, that they are not very likely to fall in the snare of their fathers. Thousands of families, once desolated and despised, and upon the verge of ruin, are now well provided for, united and happy. Many neighbourhoods, once noted for disorder, riot, and immorality, are now peaceable and quiet. Many places of worship, once comparatively empty, are now frequented by numbers of reformed characters, hearing the word of life. And of these there are hundreds, who were once like the man among the tombs, cutting themselves, who are now clothed, and in their right mind, sitting at the feet of Jesus. It has also given rise to several valuable institutions: such as the INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES,* a first rate benefit society, consisting of a noble army of "Life guards" of our Temperance rights; 30,000 strong; and still increasing. The UNITED ORDER OF FEMALE RECHABITES, consisting of 500 Tents;

*See Rules, which can be had of any of the members, some of whom are to be found in most towns. Their Monthly Magazine is one of the best and cheapest of our Temperance publications, and can be had by any Bookseller, of Houlston, Pat. Row.