Chapter VIII - Healing the Sick
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transgressed, where can he look for immortality? Is it
transgressed, where can he look for immortality? Is it
to person or Principle, to matter or Spirit, to body or
Soul, he finally flees?
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If matter is the identity of man, existence is but a
If matter is the identity of man, existence is but a
continuation of personal sense that proves itself the
source of pain. To contend for personal sense, and
against mind's control over the body, is like the defend-
ant arguing for the plaintiff, and in favor of a law that
sentences him to suffer. Sin, sickness, and death,
would destroy man; then why should we sustain these
by a supposition of their inherent power and control
over man, making him amenable to laws that destroy
him. Until metaphysical science becomes popular, the
weak or vain will never advocate it, however much they
are benefited by it. Those of a very different mould
are commissioned for its hours of depreciation and
struggles. The final proof that all is Spirit hastens.
Life will be demonstrated ere long according to our
statement of it, viz., Spirit and not matter; then shall
we marvel at the tenacity of opposite opinions, that with
the law and prophets and science, we must at length
learn Truth of the things we suffer. Because science
is in advance of the age we should not say, "adhere to
personal sense to-day, for our present life depends on
matter." If this is the case, man is mortal; but it is
not so, and we cannot advance in science until we lose
this belief. Error is not a necessity at present or in the
future, and to-day is the acceptable time of Truth; the
present, even as the future, demands the science of
being. To stop utterly eating and drinking until your
belief changes in regard to these things, were error;
get rid of your beliefs as fast as possible, and admit
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the Principle, for it is the platform of health, joy and
the Principle, for it is the platform of health, joy and
immortality. To reach this proof by degrees, and only
as we are capable of doing so with increasing health,
harmony and happiness, is the only proper method.
We would not, for we could not transform the infant
at once to a man, or keep the suckling a life-long babe.
Man need not spend his days in ignorance of the science
of Life, expecting death will make him harmonious and
immortal, for it will not; we advance to Life under-
standing, therefore we cannot step at once from death
to Life, or from, matter to Spirit. Only as we under
stand the Principle of being, and reach perfection, are
we Spirit, and eternal.
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Death cannot advance man, but one step towards a
Death cannot advance man, but one step towards a
higher existence, insomuch as it changes not his belief
but in one thing, namely, that he died, and of the dis-
ease he supposed was killing him. Mortal man is the
same after as before the change called death; his body
is the same belief of man, the same supposed personal
sense, Substance in matter, and Life in the body, as
before death; and so long as this error remains, mind
being the same, the body remains mortal. We are
never Spirit until we are God; there are no individual
"spirits." Until we find Life Soul, and not sense, we
are not sinless, harmonious, or undying. We become
Spirit only as we reach being in God; not through
death or any change of matter, but mind, do we reach
Spirit, lose sin and death, and gain man's immortality;
hence the need to commence Life's lesson to-day. We
gain no higher experiences from death except to learn
we die not, and this we gain of Life only and not death.
The science of being reveals Substance, Intelligence