Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
Confirmation in a parable
400:1
mortal mind, which directly controls the body? When
mortal mind, which directly controls the body? When
disease is once destroyed in this so-called mind, the fear
of disease is gone, and therefore the disease is thor-
oughly cured. Mortal mind is "the strong man," which
must be held in subjection before its influence upon health
and morals can be removed. This error conquered, we
can despoil "the strong man" of his goods, – namely, of
sin and disease.
Eradicate error from thought
400:9
Mortals obtain the harmony of health, only as they
Mortals obtain the harmony of health, only as they
forsake discord, acknowledge the supremacy of divine
Mind, and abandon their material beliefs.
Eradicate the image of disease from the per-
turbed thought before it has taken tangible
shape in conscious thought, alias the body, and you pre-
vent the development of disease. This task becomes easy,
if you understand that every disease is an error, and has
no character nor type, except what mortal mind assigns to
it. By lifting thought above error, or disease, and con-
tending persistently for truth, you destroy error.
Mortal mind controlled
400:20
When we remove disease by addressing the disturbed
When we remove disease by addressing the disturbed
mind, giving no heed to the body, we prove that thought
alone creates the suffering. Mortal mind
rules all that is mortal. We see in the body
the images of this mind, even as in optics we see painted
on the retina the image which becomes visible to the
senses. The action of so-called mortal mind must be
destroyed by the divine Mind to bring out the harmony
of being. Without divine control there is discord, mani-
fest as sin, sickness, and death.
Mortal mind not a healer
400:30
The Scriptures plainly declare the baneful influence of
The Scriptures plainly declare the baneful influence of
sinful thought on the body. Even our Master felt this.
It is recorded that in certain localities he did not many
401:1
mighty works "because of their unbelief" in Truth. Any
mighty works "because of their unbelief" in Truth. Any
human error is its own enemy, and works against itself;
it does nothing in the right direction and much
in the wrong. If so-called mind is cherishing
evil passions and malicious purposes, it is not a healer,
but it engenders disease and death.
Effect of opposites
401:7
If faith in the truth of being, which you impart men-
If faith in the truth of being, which you impart men-
tally while destroying error, causes chemicalization (as
when an alkali is destroying an acid), it is be-
cause the truth of being must transform the
error to the end of producing a higher manifestation.
This fermentation should not aggravate the disease, but
should be as painless to man as to a fluid, since matter
has no sensation and mortal mind only feels and sees
materially.
401:16
What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced
What I term chemicalization is the upheaval produced
when immortal Truth is destroying erroneous mortal be-
lief. Mental chemicalization brings sin and sickness to
the surface, forcing impurities to pass away, as is the case
with a fermenting fluid.
Medicine and brain
401:21
The only effect produced by medicine is dependent upon
The only effect produced by medicine is dependent upon
mental action. If the mind were parted from the body,
could you produce any effect upon the brain
or body by applying the drug to either? Would
the drug remove paralysis, affect organization, or restore
will and action to cerebrum and cerebellum?
Skilful surgery
401:27
Until the advancing age admits the efficacy and suprem-
Until the advancing age admits the efficacy and suprem-
acy of Mind, it is better for Christian Scientists to leave
surgery and the adjustment of broken bones
and dislocations to the fingers of a surgeon,
while the mental healer confines himself chiefly to mental
reconstruction and to the prevention of inflammation.