Record of Physicians as found in the Bible

Woodford County (III.) Democrat

In his last article "Democrat Doctor," quotes a number of Scripture passages referring to the use of medicines, and spends time trying to convince us that medicines were used at different times in the history of the world. "Doctor," permit me to say to you that no Christian Healer doubts that medicines were used by some people at different periods of the world's history, any more than they doubt that polygamy was practised and tolerated by certain people. The question is, did God authorize, approve, or use, medicines? I referred to the case of Kind Asa, who died because he applied to physicians instead of God, and the case of King Hezekiah, who was healed and had his life lengthened, because he applied to God, and not to physicians, purposely to show the difference between applying to God, and applying to physicians. Numerous instances could be cited from the Scriptures showing that before physicians were ever named or known, men lived to nearly a thousand years of age. There is abundance of good medical evidence on record to show, that in the judgment of many of the best physicians who have studied and practised meteria medica during the present century, that drug medication is a failure and cannot be relied upon. The noted Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia said, "It is impossible to calculate the mischief Hippocrates has done, by first marking Nature with name, and afterwards letting her loose upon sick people." Your attempt to show that figs had anything to do in healing or adding additional years to the life of King Hezekiah, is not the first time in the history of the world. when the product of the fig-tree has been resorted to by those who were not satisfied with God's way of dealing with man.

Nearly twenty-five hundred years of the world's history had been recorded before we find any mention of physicians, then they are spoken of in a case of embalming a dead man; then nearly two hundred more years roll by before they are mentioned again. This time poor old Job tells them that they are "forgers of lies," and "of no value;" then near five hundred more years roll by until King Asa had his experience with them, and slept with his fathers. After that they are not mentioned again in the Old Testament. Only three times in the world's history from Adam to Jesus, are they referred to. In the case of the embalming they may have been a success, but so far as benefiting the living there is no evidence in their favor. Now for the New Testament evidence. In Matthew, Jesus says, "They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth. I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," and Mark repeats the same thing practically—and also gives the case of a poor woman who "had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." Paul in that noted fourth chapter of Colossians, the chapter that used to be so dear to the heart of the advocates of human slavery, speaks of Luke, as "the beloved physician," but please bear in mind that when Paul speaks in this endearing manner of Luke it was after Luke had abandoned drugs, and had been practising Christian healing for more than thirty years. This closes the history of physicians of far as anything can be learned from the New Testament. Summed up in brief, we fail to find a single case where mankind was benefited by physicians, while on the other hand, it is clear that one patient was left in a worse condition after taking their treatment than she was when they commenced to treat her. She no doubt felt toward them, much as Job felt when he said they were of "no value."

The "Doctor" endeavors to make it appear that Christian Scientists in their treatment, rely on material remedies, and accuses me of "juggling with words," when I state that they are not therapeutists. The definition given by the Standard Dictionary to the word Therapeutic, is "a medicine efficacious in curing or alleviating disease." This same authority says that medicine is "a substance possessing, or reputed to possess, curative or remedial properties." It is very clear, then, that I am not engaged in the use of a therapeutic, as the "Doctor" would have us believe when I sit quietly at home to avoid tobacco-smoke or a chilly wind, if I am suffering with so-called disease. Paul had no thought of therapeutics, when he said (as Rotherham's translation gives it), "Let us approach, with a genuine heart; in full assurance of faith, having been sprinkled, as to [our] hearts, from an evil conscience; and having been bathed, as to [our] body, with pure water; let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering; (for faithful the [is] he that promises;) and let us attentively consider one another for an inciting of love and noble works" (Hebrews, 10:25).

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