Chapter VIII - Healing the Sick
446:1
obtained for a trial at the bar of Spirit, where Science
obtained for a trial at the bar of Spirit, where Science
should appear as counsel for the poor prisoner. Wit-
nesses, judges, and jurors of the Mental Court of Com-
mon Errors were summoned to appear at the bar of
Truth. When the case for man versus matter opened,
his counsel was regarding the prisoner with the utmost
tenderness, but that solemn, serene look changed, the
earnest eyes kindling with hope and triumph uplifted
for a single moment, turned suddenly to the Mental
Court of Common Pleas, and Science opened the argu-
ment by saying:
446:11
"The prisoner at the bar has been
"The prisoner at the bar has been
sentenced unjustly; his trial was a mocking tragedy,
morally illegal; Man has had no counsel in the case;
all the testimony was on the side of matter, and we
will unearth this foul conspiracy against the liberty
and life of Man. The only valid testimony in the case
proved the alleged crime was never committed, and the
prisoner unworthy of death or of bonds. Your Honor,
Materia Medica, has sentenced Man, the image of God,
to die, denying justice to the body, has recommended
mercy for Spirit which is infinite Wisdom and Man's
only law-giver! Here you will please inform us who
or what has sinned; has the body committed a deed?
Your counsel, Belief, argues, that which never sinned
should die, while mind, that is capable of sin and suf-
fering you comfort and commend to mercy. The body
committed no offence, and man in just obedience to
higher law, helped his fellow man, which should result
in good to himself. The law of our Supreme Court
decrees, whoso sinneth shall die, but good deeds im-
mortalize man, bringing joy instead of grief, pleasure
instead of pain, and life instead of death. If liver com-
447:1
plaint was induced, trampling upon Laws of Health,
plaint was induced, trampling upon Laws of Health,
it was a good deed, the witness is a usurper of man's
liberty and rights, and should be consigned to oblivion.
Watching beside the couch of pain in the exercise of
Love, that fulfills the whole law, doing unto others as
ye would they should do unto you, is no infringement
of law, for no demand, human or divine, renders it right
to punish a man for doing right. If man sins, our Su-
preme Judge of equity decides the penalty due to sin;
but he can suffer only for sin, and for naught else can
he be punished according to the laws of God; then
what jurisdiction has your Honors, Materia Medica and
Physiology in the case? 'Sittest thou to judge a man
after the law, and commandest him to be smitten con-
trary to the law?' The only jurisprudence to which
the prisoner shall be made to submit is Truth, Life and
Love, and if these condemn him not, neither shalt thou
condemn him, but shall restore to him the liberty
against which you have conspired.
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"Your principal witness (Laws of Health) deposed
"Your principal witness (Laws of Health) deposed
he was an eye-witness to the good deeds for which you
sentence a man to die, and even betrayed him into the
hands of your law, then disappeared on that occasion
to reappear on this, against Man, and in support of
Personal Sense, a known criminal. The Supreme
Court of Spirit, versus matter, finds the prisoner, on the
night of the alleged offence, acting within the limits,
and in obedience to the divine statute, upon which
'hangs all law and testimony, giving a cup of cold water
in my name,' etc.; and thus laying down his life, he
should find it; such deeds bear the justification, and
are under the protection of the Most High ruler. Prior