John Wesley (1703-1791), by William Hamilton (1751-1801), painted in 1788. Wesley echoed the advice of Jesus ben Sirach in Ecclesiasticus 38:9-14: In sickness, Sirach says, leave off from sin, cleansing the heart from all wickedness, and then call in the doctor. “For the Lord hath created him; there is a time when in their hands there is good success.” He also urged the doctors themselves to prayer, so enhancing the power of their drugs.
REFLECTING to-day on the case of a poor woman who had continual pain in her stomach, I could not but remark the inexcusable negligence of most Physicians in cases of this nature. They prescribe drug upon drug, without knowing a jot of the matter concerning the root of the disorder. And without knowing this, they cannot cure, though they can murder, the patient.
Whence came this woman’s pain? (which she would never have told, had she never been questioned about it:) from fretting for the death of her son. And what availed medicines, while that fretting continued? Why then do not all Physicians consider how far bodily disorders are caused or influenced by the mind; and in those cases, which are utterly out of their sphere, call in the assistance of a Minister; as Ministers, when they find the mind disordered by the body, call in the assistance of a Physician? But why are these cases out of their sphere? Because they know not God. It follows, no man can be a thorough Physician without being an experienced Christian.
Précis
In 1759, John Wesley recalled how he had helped a woman to come to terms with the death of her son, and thus (he hinted) find relief from a stubborn internal pain. Many bodily ailments had roots in the soul, said Wesley, and added that medicine would take great strides forward if doctors also knew something of the Christian gospel. (59 / 60 words)
