Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Appeal to a higher tribunal
434:1
and set the captive free. Swift on the wings of divine
and set the captive free. Swift on the wings of divine
Love, there comes a despatch: "Delay the execution;
the prisoner is not guilty." Consternation fills
the prison-yard. Some exclaim, "It is con-
trary to law and justice." Others say,
"The law of Christ supersedes our laws; let us follow
Christ."
Counsel for defence
434:8
After much debate and opposition, permission is ob-
After much debate and opposition, permission is ob-
tained for a trial in the Court of Spirit, where Christian
Science is allowed to appear as counsel for
the unfortunate prisoner. Witnesses, judges
and jurors, who were at the previous Court of Error,
are now summoned to appear before the bar of Justice
and eternal Truth.
434:15
When the case for Mortal Man versus Personal Sense
When the case for Mortal Man versus Personal Sense
is opened, Mortal Man's counsel regards the prisoner
with the utmost tenderness. The counsel's earnest,
solemn eyes, kindling with hope and triumph, look up-
ward. Then Christian Science turns suddenly to the
supreme tribunal, and opens the argument for the
defence: –
434:22
The prisoner at the bar has been unjustly sentenced.
The prisoner at the bar has been unjustly sentenced.
His trial was a tragedy, and is morally illegal. Mortal
Man has had no proper counsel in the case. All the testi-
mony has been on the side of Personal Sense, and we shall
unearth this foul conspiracy against the liberty and life of
Man. The only valid testimony in the case shows the
alleged crime never to have been committed. The pris-
oner is not proved "worthy of death, or of bonds."
434:30
Your Honor, the lower court has sentenced Mortal Man
Your Honor, the lower court has sentenced Mortal Man
to die, but God made Man immortal and amenable to
Spirit only. Denying justice to the body, that court com-
435:1
mended man's immortal Spirit to heavenly mercy, – Spirit
mended man's immortal Spirit to heavenly mercy, – Spirit
which is God Himself and Man's only lawgiver! Who or
what has sinned? Has the body or has Mortal Mind
committed a criminal deed? Counsellor False Belief has
argued that the body should die, while Reverend Theology
would console conscious Mortal Mind, which alone is capa-
ble of sin and suffering. The body committed no offence.
Mortal Man, in obedience to higher law, helped his fellow‑
man, an act which should result in good to himself as well
as to others.
435:11
The law of our Supreme Court decrees that whosoever
The law of our Supreme Court decrees that whosoever
sinneth shall die; but good deeds are immortal, bringing
joy instead of grief, pleasure instead of pain, and life
instead of death. If liver-complaint was committed by
trampling on Laws of Health, this was a good deed, for the
agent of those laws is an outlaw, a destroyer of Mortal
Man's liberty and rights. Laws of Health should be sen-
tenced to die.
435:19
Watching beside the couch of pain in the exercise of a
Watching beside the couch of pain in the exercise of a
love that "is the fulfilling of the law," – doing "unto
others as ye would that they should do unto you," – this
is no infringement of law, for no demand, human or divine,
renders it just to punish a man for acting justly. If mor-
tals sin, our Supreme Judge in equity decides what penalty
is due for the sin, and Mortal Man can suffer only for his
sin. For naught else can he be punished, according to the
law of Spirit, God.
435:28
Then what jurisdiction had his Honor, Judge Medicine,
Then what jurisdiction had his Honor, Judge Medicine,
in this case? To him I might say, in Bible language, "Sit-
test thou to judge . . . after the law, and commandest . . .
to be smitten contrary to the law?" The only jurisdiction
to which the prisoner can submit is that of Truth, Life, and
Love. If they condemn him not, neither shall Judge Medi-
cine condemn him; and I ask that the prisoner be restored
to the liberty of which he has been unjustly deprived.