Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Death no benefactor
410:1
If here we give no heed to Christian Science, which is
If here we give no heed to Christian Science, which is
spiritual and eternal, we shall not be ready for spiritual
Life hereafter.
Life eternal and present
410:4
"This is life eternal," says Jesus, – is, not shall be;
"This is life eternal," says Jesus, – is, not shall be;
and then he defines everlasting life as a present knowledge
of his Father and of himself, – the knowledge
of Love, Truth, and Life. "This is life eter-
nal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and
Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." The Scriptures
say, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," show-
ing that Truth is the actual life of man; but mankind
objects to making this teaching practical.
Love casteth out fear
410:14
Every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger.
Every trial of our faith in God makes us stronger.
The more difficult seems the material condition to be
overcome by Spirit, the stronger should be our
faith and the purer our love. The Apostle
John says: "There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love
casteth out fear. . . . He that feareth is not made per-
fect in Love." Here is a definite and inspired proclama-
tion of Christian Science.
410:22
MENTAL TREATMENT ILLUSTRATED
MENTAL TREATMENT ILLUSTRATED
Be not afraid
410:23
The Science of mental practice is susceptible of no
The Science of mental practice is susceptible of no
misuse. Selfishness does not appear in the practice of
Truth or Christian Science. If mental prac-
tice is abused or is used in any way except to
promote right thinking and doing, the power to heal
mentally will diminish, until the practitioner's healing
ability is wholly lost. Christian scientific practice be-
gins with Christ's keynote of harmony, "Be not afraid!"
411:1
Said Job: "The thing which I greatly feared is come
Said Job: "The thing which I greatly feared is come
upon me."
Naming diseases
411:3
My first discovery in the student's practice was this:
My first discovery in the student's practice was this:
If the student silently called the disease by name, when
he argued against it, as a general rule the body
would respond more quickly, – just as a per-
son replies more readily when his name is spoken; but
this was because the student was not perfectly attuned to
divine Science, and needed the arguments of truth for
reminders. If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear
witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific
way, and the healing is instantaneous.
Evils cast out
411:13
It is recorded that once Jesus asked the name of a dis-
It is recorded that once Jesus asked the name of a dis-
ease, – a disease which moderns would call dementia.
The demon, or evil, replied that his name was
Legion. Thereupon Jesus cast out the evil,
and the insane man was changed and straightway be-
came whole. The Scripture seems to import that Jesus
caused the evil to be self-seen and so destroyed.
Fear as the foundation
411:20
The procuring cause and foundation of all sickness is
The procuring cause and foundation of all sickness is
fear, ignorance, or sin. Disease is always induced by a
false sense mentally entertained, not destroyed.
Disease is an image of thought externalized.
The mental state is called a material state. Whatever
is cherished in mortal mind as the physical condition is
imaged forth on the body.
Unspoken pleading
411:27
Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear
Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear
of patients. Silently reassure them as to their exemp-
tion from disease and danger. Watch the re-
sult of this simple rule of Christian Science,
and you will find that it alleviates the symptoms of every
disease. If you succeed in wholly removing the fear,