Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Mourning causeless
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perceive this to be true when we grow into the under-
perceive this to be true when we grow into the under-
standing of Life, and know that there is no death.
Mind heals brain-disease
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Because mortal mind is kept active, must it pay the
Because mortal mind is kept active, must it pay the
penalty in a softened brain? Who dares to say that actual
Mind can be overworked? When we reach
our limits of mental endurance, we conclude
that intellectual labor has been carried sufficiently far;
but when we realize that immortal Mind is ever active,
and that spiritual energies can neither wear out nor can
so-called material law trespass upon God-given powers
and resources, we are able to rest in Truth, refreshed by
the assurances of immortality, opposed to mortality.
Right never punishable
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Our thinkers do not die early because they faithfully
Our thinkers do not die early because they faithfully
perform the natural functions of being. If printers and
authors have the shortest span of earthly ex-
istence, it is not because they occupy the most
important posts and perform the most vital functions in
society. That man does not pay the severest penalty
who does the most good. By adhering to the realities of
eternal existence, – instead of reading disquisitions on
the inconsistent supposition that death comes in obedience
to the law of life, and that God punishes man for doing
good, – one cannot suffer as the result of any labor of
love, but grows stronger because of it. It is a law of so‑
called mortal mind, misnamed matter, which causes all
things discordant.
Christian history
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The history of Christianity furnishes sublime proofs
The history of Christianity furnishes sublime proofs
of the supporting influence and protecting power bestowed
on man by his heavenly Father, omnipotent
Mind, who gives man faith and understanding
whereby to defend himself, not only from temptation, but
from bodily suffering.
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The Christian martyrs were prophets of Christian
The Christian martyrs were prophets of Christian
Science. Through the uplifting and consecrating power
of divine Truth, they obtained a victory over the corpo-
real senses, a victory which Science alone can explain.
Stolidity, which is a resisting state of mortal mind, suffers
less, only because it knows less of material law.
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The Apostle John testified to the divine basis of Chris-
The Apostle John testified to the divine basis of Chris-
tian Science, when dire inflictions failed to destroy his
body. Idolaters, believing in more than one mind, had
"gods many," and thought that they could kill the body
with matter, independently of mind.
Sustenance spiritual
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Admit the common hypothesis that food is the nutri-
Admit the common hypothesis that food is the nutri-
ment of life, and there follows the necessity for another
admission in the opposite direction, – that
food has power to destroy Life, God, through
a deficiency or an excess, a quality or a quantity. This
is a specimen of the ambiguous nature of all material
health-theories. They are self-contradictory and self-de-
structive, constituting a "kingdom divided against itself,"
which is "brought to desolation." If food was prepared
by Jesus for his disciples, it cannot destroy life.
God sustains man
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The fact is, food does not affect the absolute Life of
The fact is, food does not affect the absolute Life of
man, and this becomes self-evident, when we learn that
God is our Life. Because sin and sickness are
not qualities of Soul, or Life, we have hope in
immortality; but it would be foolish to venture beyond
our present understanding, foolish to stop eating until
we gain perfection and a clear comprehension of the living
Spirit. In that perfect day of understanding, we shall
neither eat to live nor live to eat.
Diet and digestion
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If mortals think that food disturbs the harmonious
If mortals think that food disturbs the harmonious
functions of mind and body, either the food or this thought