Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Effacing images of disease
396:1
worst of diseases. One should never hold in mind
worst of diseases. One should never hold in mind
the thought of disease, but should efface from
thought all forms and types of disease, both for
one's own sake and for that of the patient.
Avoid talking disease
396:5
Avoid talking illness to the patient. Make no unne-
Avoid talking illness to the patient. Make no unne-
cessary inquiries relative to feelings or disease. Never
startle with a discouraging remark about re-
covery, nor draw attention to certain symp-
toms as unfavorable, avoid speaking aloud the name of
the disease. Never say beforehand how much you have
to contend with in a case, nor encourage in the patient's
thought the expectation of growing worse before a crisis
is passed.
False testimony refuted
396:14
The refutation of the testimony of material sense is
The refutation of the testimony of material sense is
not a difficult task in view of the conceded falsity of this
testimony. The refutation becomes arduous,
not because the testimony of sin or disease is
true, but solely on account of the tenacity of belief in its
truth, due to the force of education and the overwhelm-
ing weight of opinions on the wrong side, – all teaching
that the body suffers, as if matter could have sensation.
Healthful explanation
396:22
At the right time explain to the sick the power which
At the right time explain to the sick the power which
their beliefs exercise over their bodies. Give them divine
and wholesome understanding, with which to
combat their erroneous sense, and so efface the
images of sickness from mortal mind. Keep distinctly in
thought that man is the offspring of God, not of man;
that man is spiritual, not material; that Soul is Spirit,
outside of matter, never in it, never giving the body life
and sensation. It breaks the dream of disease to under-
stand that sickness is formed by the human mind, not by
matter nor by the divine Mind.
Misleading methods
397:1
By not perceiving vital metaphysical points, not seeing
By not perceiving vital metaphysical points, not seeing
how mortal mind affects the body, – acting beneficially
or injuriously on the health, as well as on the
morals and the happiness of mortals, – we are
misled in our conclusions and methods. We throw the
mental influence on the wrong side, thereby actually in-
juring those whom we mean to bless.
Remedy for accidents
397:8
Suffering is no less a mental condition than is enjoy-
Suffering is no less a mental condition than is enjoy-
ment. You cause bodily sufferings and increase them
by admitting their reality and continuance,
as directly as you enhance your joys by be-
lieving them to be real and continuous. When an ac-
cident happens, you think or exclaim, "I am hurt!"
Your thought is more powerful than your words, more
powerful than the accident itself, to make the injury
real.
397:17
Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt
Now reverse the process. Declare that you are not hurt
and understand the reason why, and you will find the
ensuing good effects to be in exact proportion to your
disbelief in physics, and your fidelity to divine meta-
physics, confidence in God as All, which the Scriptures
declare Him to be.
Independent mentality
397:23
To heal the sick, one must be familiar with the great
To heal the sick, one must be familiar with the great
verities of being. Mortals are no more material in their
waking hours than when they act, walk, see,
hear, enjoy, or suffer in dreams. We can
never treat mortal mind and matter separately, because
they combine as one. Give up the belief that mind
is, even temporarily, compressed within the skull, and
you will quickly become more manly or womanly. You
will understand yourself and your Maker better than
before.