Chapter VII - Physiology
Sense yields to understanding
189:1
material senses yield to the authority of this science, and
material senses yield to the authority of this science, and
they are willing to leave with astronomy the explanation of
the sun's influence over the earth. If the eyes see no sun
for a week, we still believe that there is solar light and
heat. Science (in this instance named natural) raises
the human thought above the cruder theories of the
human mind, and casts out a fear.
189:8
In like manner mortals should no more deny the power
In like manner mortals should no more deny the power
of Christian Science to establish harmony and to explain
the effect of mortal mind on the body, though the cause
be unseen, than they should deny the existence of the sun-
light when the orb of day disappears, or doubt that the sun
will reappear. The sins of others should not make good
men suffer.
Ascending the scale
189:15
We call the body material; but it is as truly mortal
We call the body material; but it is as truly mortal
mind, according to its degree, as is the material brain
which is supposed to furnish the evidence
of all mortal thought or things. The human
mortal mind, by an inevitable perversion, makes all
things start from the lowest instead of from the highest
mortal thought. The reverse is the case with all the
formations of the immortal divine Mind. They proceed
from the divine source; and so, in tracing them, we con-
stantly ascend in infinite being.
Human reproduction
189:25
From mortal mind comes the reproduction of the
From mortal mind comes the reproduction of the
species, – first the belief of inanimate, and then of ani-
mate matter. According to mortal thought,
the development of embryonic mortal mind
commences in the lower, basal portion of the brain, and
goes on in an ascending scale by evolution, keeping always
in the direct line of matter, for matter is the subjective
condition of mortal mind.
190:1
Next we have the formation of so-called embryonic
Next we have the formation of so-called embryonic
mortal mind, afterwards mortal men or mortals, – all this
while matter is a belief, ignorant of itself, ignorant of what
it is supposed to produce. The mortal says that an inani-
mate unconscious seedling is producing mortals, both body
and mind; and yet neither a mortal mind nor the immortal
Mind is found in brain or elsewhere in matter or in mortals.
Human stature
190:8
This embryonic and materialistic human belief called
This embryonic and materialistic human belief called
mortal man in turn fills itself with thoughts
of pain and pleasure, of life and death, and
arranges itself into five so-called senses, which presently
measure mind by the size of a brain and the bulk of a
body, called man.
Human frailty
190:14
Human birth, growth, maturity, and decay are as the
Human birth, growth, maturity, and decay are as the
grass springing from the soil with beautiful green blades,
afterwards to wither and return to its native
nothingness. This mortal seeming is temporal;
it never merges into immortal being, but finally disap-
pears, and immortal man, spiritual and eternal, is found
to be the real man.
The Hebrew bard, swayed by mortal thoughts, thus
swept his lyre with saddening strains on human existence:
190:23
As for man, his days are as grass:
As for man, his days are as grass:
As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone;
And the place thereof shall know it no more.
190:27
When hope rose higher in the human heart, he sang:
When hope rose higher in the human heart, he sang:
190:28
As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:
As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.
. . . . .
For with Thee is the fountain of life;
In Thy light shall we see light.