Chapter XIV - Recapitulation
Sleep an illusion
491:1
is swimming when he is on dry land. Needle-thrusts will
is swimming when he is on dry land. Needle-thrusts will
not hurt him. A delicious perfume will seem intolerable.
Animal magnetism thus uncovers material sense, and
shows it to be a belief without actual foundation or va-
lidity. Change the belief, and the sensation changes.
Destroy the belief, and the sensation disappears.
Man linked with Spirit
491:7
Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary
Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary
error, of a negative right and a positive wrong, the latter
calling itself right. Man's spiritual individual-
ity is never wrong. It is the likeness of man's
Maker. Matter cannot connect mortals with the true
origin and facts of being, in which all must end. It is only
by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls
the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and
find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man
forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator.
Material man as a dream
491:17
The belief that matter and mind are one, – that mat-
The belief that matter and mind are one, – that mat-
ter is awake at one time and asleep at another, some-
times presenting no appearance of mind, –
this belief culminates in another belief, that
man dies. Science reveals material man as never the real
being. The dream or belief goes on, whether our eyes are
closed or open. In sleep, memory and consciousness are
lost from the body, and they wander whither they will
apparently with their own separate embodiment. Per-
sonality is not the individuality of man. A wicked man
may have an attractive personality.
Spiritual existence the one fact
491:28
When we are awake, we dream of the pains and pleas-
When we are awake, we dream of the pains and pleas-
ures of matter. Who will say, even though he
does not understand Christian Science, that
this dream – rather than the dreamer – may
not be mortal man? Who can rationally say otherwise,
492:1
when the dream leaves mortal man intact in body and
when the dream leaves mortal man intact in body and
thought, although the so-called dreamer is unconscious?
For right reasoning there should be but one fact before
the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there
is no other existence, since Life cannot be united to its
unlikeness, mortality.
Mind one and all
492:7
Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already
Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already
proved that a knowledge of this, even in small degree,
will uplift the physical and moral standard
of mortals, will increase longevity, will purify
and elevate character. Thus progress will finally destroy
all error, and bring immortality to light. We know that
a statement proved to be good must be correct. New
thoughts are constantly obtaining the floor. These two
contradictory theories – that matter is something, or
that all is Mind – will dispute the ground, until one is
acknowledged to be the victor. Discussing his cam-
paign, General Grant said: "I propose to fight it out on
this line, if it takes all summer." Science says: All is
Mind and Mind's idea. You must fight it out on this
line. Matter can afford you no aid.
Scientific ultimatum
492:22
The notion that mind and matter commingle in the
The notion that mind and matter commingle in the
human illusion as to sin, sickness, and death must even-
tually submit to the Science of Mind, which
denies this notion. God is Mind, and God is
infinite; hence all is Mind. On this statement rests the
Science of being, and the Principle of this Science is di-
vine, demonstrating harmony and immortality.
Victory for Truth
492:29
The conservative theory, long believed, is that there
The conservative theory, long believed, is that there
are two factors, matter and mind, uniting on some im-
possible basis. This theory would keep truth and error
always at war. Victory would perch on neither banner.