Chapter VII - Physiology
Causes of sickness
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the whole thing; for matter has no sensation of its own,
the whole thing; for matter has no sensation of its own,
and the human mind is all that can produce pain.
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As a man thinketh, so is he. Mind is all that feels,
As a man thinketh, so is he. Mind is all that feels,
acts, or impedes action. Ignorant of this, or shrinking
from its implied responsibility, the healing effort is made
on the wrong side, and thus the conscious control over the
body is lost.
Delusions pagan and medical
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The Mohammedan believes in a pilgrimage to Mecca
The Mohammedan believes in a pilgrimage to Mecca
for the salvation of his soul. The popular doctor believes
in his prescription, and the pharmacist believes
in the power of his drugs to save a man's
life. The Mohammedan's belief is a religious
delusion; the doctor's and pharmacist's is a medical
mistake.
Health from reliance on spirituality
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The erring human mind is inharmonious in itself.
The erring human mind is inharmonious in itself.
From it arises the inharmonious body. To ignore
God as of little use in sickness is a mistake.
Instead of thrusting Him aside in times of
bodily trouble, and waiting for the hour of
strength in which to acknowledge Him, we should learn
that He can do all things for us in sickness as in
health.
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Failing to recover health through adherence to physi-
Failing to recover health through adherence to physi-
ology and hygiene, the despairing invalid often drops
them, and in his extremity and only as a last resort, turns
to God. The invalid's faith in the divine Mind is less
than in drugs, air, and exercise, or he would have resorted
to Mind first. The balance of power is conceded to be
with matter by most of the medical systems; but when
Mind at last asserts its mastery over sin, disease, and
death, then is man found to be harmonious and
immortal.
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Should we implore a corporeal God to heal the sick
Should we implore a corporeal God to heal the sick
out of His personal volition, or should we understand the
infinite divine Principle which heals? If we rise no higher
than blind faith, the Science of healing is not attained, and
Soul-existence, in the place of sense-existence, is not com-
prehended. We apprehend Life in divine Science only
as we live above corporeal sense and correct it. Our pro-
portionate admission of the claims of good or of evil de-
termines the harmony of our existence, – our health, our
longevity, and our Christianity.
The two masters
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We cannot serve two masters nor perceive divine Sci-
We cannot serve two masters nor perceive divine Sci-
ence with the material senses. Drugs and hygiene cannot
successfully usurp the place and power of the
divine source of all health and perfection. If
God made man both good and evil, man must remain
thus. What can improve God's work? Again, an error
in the premise must appear in the conclusion. To have
one God and avail yourself of the power of Spirit, you
must love God supremely.
Half-way success
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The "flesh lusteth against the Spirit." The flesh and
The "flesh lusteth against the Spirit." The flesh and
Spirit can no more unite in action, than good can coin-
cide with evil. It is not wise to take a halt-
ing and half-way position or to expect to work
equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There,
is but one way – namely, God and His idea – which
leads to spiritual being. The scientific government of the
body must be attained through the divine Mind. It is im-
possible to gain control over the body in any other way.
On this fundamental point, timid conservatism is abso-
lutely inadmissible. Only through radical reliance on
Truth can scientific healing power be realized.
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Substituting good words for a good life, fair seeming
Substituting good words for a good life, fair seeming