Chapter VIII - Healing the Sick
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sufferings also; but this is not so, if the body causes
sufferings also; but this is not so, if the body causes
pain it can also cure it, but matter neither caused nor
cured disease; not a gas accumulates, or a secretion
takes place, or a combination occurs without mind.
We admit the voluntary action of mind controls muscles,
bones and nerves, but conclude, when these please to
rebel against mind, as in case of lameness or contrac-
tion, they will not obey, however much we desire it,
and mind has no more control over them; but this
makes muscles and bones superior to man in one in-
stance, and in another his servant, which is unnatural
and not equal to the economy of human governments.
If muscles are capable of action without the mind, we
might say they are capable of inaction also, on this
same premises, but not otherwise; and if they are able
to inact of themselves at any time, they are at all times,
and man has no control over them, and one state is as
much their normal condition as the other; hence a stiff-
ened joint or paralyzed limb is as natural as its opposite.
But if mind controls muscles in one case, it does in all
cases. When Shakespeare said, "Throw physic to the
dogs," I have some faith he added to the cast-aways,
the belief of intelligent matter. Sometimes in fevers,
consumptions, etc., the patient seems full of courage,
and we say, "how calm he is; how can he be suffering
from fear; his body is the victim of disease, but the
mind is unmoved." Mind that in sickness we deem
tranquil, is frightened with its own images; fear heats
the insensible body and dashes the blood in mad cur-
rents; but Christ, Truth, stills this tempest, with its
"peace be still." If disease can attack and control the
body without man's consent, so can sin; both are error
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to be destroyed; dare you admit Spirit cannot govern
to be destroyed; dare you admit Spirit cannot govern
the body when error of any nature takes it in hand?
Destroy the belief of fever and the fear it occasions,
and blood will circulate again mildly, and the body be
at peace. Personal sense takes no cognizance of what
is going on in mind; it is blind to the cause of effects;
to comprehend our explanation of man you must per-
ceive its Principle in science, that demands under-
standing and demonstration; whereas personal sense
requires belief only.
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The metaphysical physician looks for effects where
The metaphysical physician looks for effects where
the physical doctor thinks he finds causes. The former
finds all causation mind, the latter looks for cause only
in matter; the former heals on the scientific basis of
being, whereby mind governs the body, the latter
through the belief that matter controls man. Meta-
physical pathology rests on psychology, or the science
of Soul; but the signification of psychology is per-
verted whenever construed mesmerism instead of sci-
ence. The metaphysical method of healing the sick
labors under this disadvantage, that mortal belief appre-
hends matter only, and not Spirit; and disparages the
metaphysical, and gives the physical precedence in all
things, throwing all the weight of belief in the scale of
personal sense, and on the side of matter. Meeting the
affirmative to disease with a negative, neutralizes the
positive belief and its effects on the body, making
discord become negative to harmony, and introducing
the science of being. A patient thoroughly booked in
physiology, materia medica, etc., is more difficult to
heal with science, than one having never bowed the
knee so methodically to matter.