Chapter VII - Physiology
Modes of matter
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reliance on God, omnipotent Mind, and according to be-
reliance on God, omnipotent Mind, and according to be-
lief, poisons the human system. Truth is not the basis of
theogony. Modes of matter form neither a moral nor a
spiritual system. The discord which calls for material
methods is the result of the exercise of faith in material
modes, – faith in matter instead of in Spirit.
Physiology unscientific
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Did Jesus understand the economy of man less than
Did Jesus understand the economy of man less than
Graham or Cutter? Christian ideas certainly present
what human theories exclude – the Principle
of man's harmony. The text, "Whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die," not only con-
tradicts human systems, but points to the self-sustaining
and eternal Truth.
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The demands of Truth are spiritual, and reach the
The demands of Truth are spiritual, and reach the
body through Mind. The best interpreter of man's needs
said: "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink."
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If there are material laws which prevent disease, what
If there are material laws which prevent disease, what
then causes it? Not divine law, for Jesus healed the
sick and cast out error, always in opposition, never in
obedience, to physics.
Causation considered
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Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered,
Spiritual causation is the one question to be considered,
for more than all others spiritual causation relates to
human progress. The age seems ready to
approach this subject, to ponder somewhat
the supremacy of Spirit, and at least to touch the hem
of Truth's garment.
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The description of man as purely physical, or as both
The description of man as purely physical, or as both
material and spiritual, – but in either case dependent
upon his physical organization, – is the Pandora box,
from which all ills have gone forth, especially despair.
Matter, which takes divine power into its own hands and
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claims to be a creator, is a fiction, in which paganism and
claims to be a creator, is a fiction, in which paganism and
lust are so sanctioned by society that mankind has caught
their moral contagion.
Paradise regained
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Through discernment of the spiritual opposite of ma-
Through discernment of the spiritual opposite of ma-
teriality, even the way through Christ, Truth, man will
reopen with the key of divine Science the gates
of Paradise which human beliefs have closed,
and will find himself unfallen, upright, pure, and free,
not needing to consult almanacs for the probabilities either
of his life or of the weather, not needing to study brain‑
ology to learn how much of a man he is.
A closed question
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Mind's control over the universe, including man, is
Mind's control over the universe, including man, is
no longer an open question, but is demonstrable Science.
Jesus illustrated the divine Principle and the
power of immortal Mind by healing sickness
and sin and destroying the foundations of death.
Matter versus Spirit
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Mistaking his origin and nature, man believes himself to
Mistaking his origin and nature, man believes himself to
be combined matter and Spirit. He believes that Spirit
is sifted through matter, carried on a nerve, ex-
posed to ejection by the operation of matter.
The intellectual, the moral, the spiritual, – yea, the image
of infinite Mind, – subject to non-intelligence!
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No more sympathy exists between the flesh and Spirit
No more sympathy exists between the flesh and Spirit
than between Belial and Christ.
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The so-called laws of matter are nothing but false be-
The so-called laws of matter are nothing but false be-
liefs that intelligence and life are present where Mind
is not. These false beliefs are the procuring cause of all
sin and disease. The opposite truth, that intelligence and
life are spiritual, never material, destroys sin, sickness,
and death.
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The fundamental error lies in the supposition that man
The fundamental error lies in the supposition that man
is a material outgrowth and that the cognizance of good
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or evil, which he has through the bodily senses, con-
or evil, which he has through the bodily senses, con-
stitutes his happiness or misery.
Godless Evolution
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Theorizing about man's development from mushrooms
Theorizing about man's development from mushrooms
to monkeys and from monkeys into men
amounts to nothing in the right direction and
very much in the wrong.
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Materialism grades the human species as rising from
Materialism grades the human species as rising from
matter upward. How then is the material species main-
tained, if man passes through what we call death and
death is the Rubicon of spirituality? Spirit can form
no real link in this supposed chain of material being.
But divine Science reveals the eternal chain of existence
as uninterrupted and wholly spiritual; yet this can be
realized only as the false sense of being disappears.
Degrees of development
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If man was first a material being, he must have passed
If man was first a material being, he must have passed
through all the forms of matter in order to become man.
If the material body is man, he is a portion of
matter, or dust. On the contrary, man is the
image and likeness of Spirit; and the belief that there is
Soul in sense or Life in matter obtains in mortals, alias
mortal mind, to which the apostle refers when he says
that we must "put off the old man."
Identity not lost
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What is man? Brain, heart, blood, bones, etc., the
What is man? Brain, heart, blood, bones, etc., the
material structure? If the real man is in the material
body, you take away a portion of the man when
you amputate a limb; the surgeon destroys
manhood, and worms annihilate it. But the loss of a limb
or injury to a tissue is sometimes the quickener of manli-
ness; and the unfortunate cripple may present more no-
bility than the statuesque athlete, – teaching us by his
very deprivations, that "a man's a man, for a' that."
When man is man
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When we admit that matter (heart, blood, brain, acting
When we admit that matter (heart, blood, brain, acting
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through the five physical senses) constitutes man, we fail
through the five physical senses) constitutes man, we fail
to see how anatomy can distinguish between
humanity and the brute, or determine when
man is really man and has progressed farther than his
animal progenitors.
Individualization
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When the supposition, that Spirit is within what it
When the supposition, that Spirit is within what it
creates and the potter is subject to the clay,
is individualized, Truth is reduced to the level
of error, and the sensible is required to be made manifest
through the insensible.
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What is termed matter manifests nothing but a material
What is termed matter manifests nothing but a material
mentality. Neither the substance nor the manifestation
of Spirit is obtainable through matter. Spirit is positive.
Matter is Spirit's contrary, the absence of Spirit. For
positive Spirit to pass through a negative condition
would be Spirit's destruction.
Man not structural
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Anatomy declares man to be structural. Physiology
Anatomy declares man to be structural. Physiology
continues this explanation, measuring human
strength by bones and sinews, and human life
by material law. Man is spiritual, individual, and eter-
nal; material structure is mortal.
Phrenology makes man knavish or honest according to
the development of the cranium; but anatomy, physiology,
phrenology, do not define the image of God, the real im-
mortal man.
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Human reason and religion come slowly to the recogni-
Human reason and religion come slowly to the recogni-
tion of spiritual facts, and so continue to call upon
matter to remove the error which the human mind alone
has created.
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The idols of civilization are far more fatal to health
The idols of civilization are far more fatal to health
and longevity than are the idols of barbarism. The idols
of civilization call into action less faith than Buddhism
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in a supreme governing intelligence. The Esquimaux
in a supreme governing intelligence. The Esquimaux
restore health by incantations as consciously as do civi-
lized practitioners by their more studied methods.
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Is civilization only a higher form of idolatry, that
Is civilization only a higher form of idolatry, that
man should bow down to a flesh-brush, to flannels, to
baths, diet, exercise, and air? Nothing save divine
power is capable of doing so much for man as he can
do for himself.
Rise of thought
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The footsteps of thought, rising above material stand-
The footsteps of thought, rising above material stand-
points, are slow, and portend a long night to the traveller;
but the angels of His presence – the spiritual
intuitions that tell us when "the night is far
spent, the day is at hand" – are our guardians in the
gloom. Whoever opens the way in Christian Science is
a pilgrim and stranger, marking out the path for gen-
erations yet unborn.
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The thunder of Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount
The thunder of Sinai and the Sermon on the Mount
are pursuing and will overtake the ages, rebuking in
their course all error and proclaiming the kingdom of
heaven on earth. Truth is revealed. It needs only to
be practised.
Medical errors
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Mortal belief is all that enables a drug to cure mortal
Mortal belief is all that enables a drug to cure mortal
ailments. Anatomy admits that mind is somewhere in
man, though out of sight. Then, if an indi-
vidual is sick, why treat the body alone and
administer a dose of despair to the mind? Why declare
that the body is diseased, and picture this disease to the
mind, rolling it under the tongue as a sweet morsel and
holding it before the thought of both physician and pa-
tient? We should understand that the cause of disease
obtains in the mortal human mind, and its cure comes
from the immortal divine Mind. We should prevent the
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images of disease from taking form in thought, and we
images of disease from taking form in thought, and we
should efface the outlines of disease already formulated in
the minds of mortals.
Novel Diseases
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When there are fewer prescriptions, and less thought is
When there are fewer prescriptions, and less thought is
given to sanitary subjects, there will be better
constitutions and less disease. In old times
who ever heard of dyspepsia, cerebro-spinal meningitis,
hay-fever, and rose-cold?
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What an abuse of natural beauty to say that a rose,
What an abuse of natural beauty to say that a rose,
the smile of God, can produce suffering! The joy of its
presence, its beauty and fragrance, should uplift the
thought, and dissuade any sense of fear or fever. It is
profane to fancy that the perfume of clover and the breath
of new-mown hay can cause glandular inflammation,
sneezing, and nasal pangs.
No ancestral dyspepsia
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If a random thought, calling itself dyspepsia, had
If a random thought, calling itself dyspepsia, had
tried to tyrannize over our forefathers, it would have
been routed by their independence and in-
dustry. Then people had less time for self‑
ishness, coddling, and sickly after-dinner talk. The ex-
act amount of food the stomach could digest was not
discussed according to Cutter nor referred to sanitary
laws. A man's belief in those days was not so severe
upon the gastric juices. Beaumont's "Medical Experi-
ments" did not govern the digestion.
Pulmonary misbeliefs
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Damp atmosphere and freezing snow empurpled the
Damp atmosphere and freezing snow empurpled the
plump cheeks of our ancestors, but they never indulged
in the refinement of inflamed bronchial tubes.
They were as innocent as Adam, before he ate
the fruit of false knowledge, of the existence of tubercles
and troches, lungs and lozenges.
Our modern Eves
175:32
"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," says
"Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise," says
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the English poet, and there is truth in his sentiment. The
the English poet, and there is truth in his sentiment. The
action of mortal mind on the body was not so injurious
before inquisitive modern Eves took up the
study of medical works and unmanly Adams
attributed their own downfall and the fate of their off-
spring to the weakness of their wives.
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The primitive custom of taking no thought about
The primitive custom of taking no thought about
food left the stomach and bowels free to act in obedi-
ence to nature, and gave the gospel a chance to be seen
in its glorious effects upon the body. A ghastly array of
diseases was not paraded before the imagination. There
were fewer books on digestion and more "sermons in
stones, and good in everything." When the mechanism
of the human mind gives place to the divine Mind, self‑
ishness and sin, disease and death, will lose their
foothold.
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Human fear of miasma would load with disease the
Human fear of miasma would load with disease the
air of Eden, and weigh down mankind with superimposed
and conjectural evils. Mortal mind is the worst foe of
the body, while divine Mind is its best friend.
Diseases not to be classified
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Should all cases of organic disease be treated by a
Should all cases of organic disease be treated by a
regular practitioner, and the Christian Scientist try
truth only in cases of hysteria, hypochon-
dria, and hallucination? One disease is no
more real than another. All disease is the
result of education, and disease can carry its ill-effects
no farther than mortal mind maps out the way. The
human mind, not matter, is supposed to feel, suffer, en-
joy. Hence decided types of acute disease are quite as
ready to yield to Truth as the less distinct type and chronic
form of disease. Truth handles the most malignant con-
tagion with perfect assurance.
One basis for all sickness
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Human mind produces what is termed organic dis-
Human mind produces what is termed organic dis-
ease as certainly as it produces hysteria, and it must re-
linquish all its errors, sicknesses, and sins.
I have demonstrated this beyond all cavil.
The evidence of divine Mind's healing power and abso-
lute control is to me as certain as the evidence of my own
existence.
Mental and physical oneness
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Mortal mind and body are one. Neither exists without
Mortal mind and body are one. Neither exists without
the other, and both must be destroyed by immortal Mind.
Matter, or body, is but a false concept of mor-
tal mind. This so-called mind builds its own
superstructure, of which the material body is
the grosser portion; but from first to last, the body is a
sensuous, human concept.
The effect of names
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In the Scriptural allegory of the material creation,
In the Scriptural allegory of the material creation,
Adam or error, which represents the erroneous theory
of life and intelligence in matter, had the
naming of all that was material. These names
indicated matter's properties, qualities, and forms. But
a lie, the opposite of Truth, cannot name the qualities and
effects of what is termed matter, and create the so-called
laws of the flesh, nor can a lie hold the preponderance
of power in any direction against God, Spirit and
Truth.
Poison defined mentally
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If a dose of poison is swallowed through mistake, and
If a dose of poison is swallowed through mistake, and
the patient dies even though physician and
patient are expecting favorable results, does
human belief, you ask, cause this death? Even
so, and as directly as if the poison had been intentionally
taken.
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In such cases a few persons believe the potion swal-
In such cases a few persons believe the potion swal-
lowed by the patient to be harmless, but the vast ma-
178:1
jority of mankind, though they know nothing of this par-
jority of mankind, though they know nothing of this par-
ticular case and this special person, believe the arsenic,
the strychnine, or whatever the drug used, to be poi-
sonous, for it is set down as a poison by mortal mind.
Consequently, the result is controlled by the majority of
opinions, not by the infinitesimal minority of opinions in
the sick-chamber.
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Heredity is not a law. The remote cause or belief
Heredity is not a law. The remote cause or belief
of disease is not dangerous because of its priority and
the connection of past mortal thoughts with present.
The predisposing cause and the exciting cause are
mental.
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Perhaps an adult has a deformity produced prior to his
Perhaps an adult has a deformity produced prior to his
birth by the fright of his mother. When wrested from
human belief and based on Science or the divine Mind, to
which all things are possible, that chronic case is not
difficult to cure.
Animal magnetism destroyed
178:18
Mortal mind, acting from the basis of sensation in
Mortal mind, acting from the basis of sensation in
matter, is animal magnetism; but this so-called mind,
from which comes all evil, contradicts itself,
and must finally yield to the eternal Truth, or
the divine Mind, expressed in Science. In pro-
portion to our understanding of Christian Science, we are
freed from the belief of heredity, of mind in matter or ani-
mal magnetism; and we disarm sin of its imaginary power
in proportion to our spiritual understanding of the status
of immortal being.
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Ignorant of the methods and the basis of metaphysical
Ignorant of the methods and the basis of metaphysical
healing, you may attempt to unite with it hypnotism,
spiritualism, electricity; but none of these methods can
be mingled with metaphysical healing.
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Whoever reaches the understanding of Christian Science
Whoever reaches the understanding of Christian Science
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in its proper signification will perform the sudden cures
in its proper signification will perform the sudden cures
of which it is capable; but this can be done only by
taking up the cross and following Christ in the daily
life.
Absent patients
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Science can heal the sick, who are absent from their
Science can heal the sick, who are absent from their
healers, as well as those present, since space is no ob-
stacle to Mind. Immortal Mind heals what eye
hath not seen; but the spiritual capacity to ap-
prehend thought and to heal by the Truth-power, is won
only as man is found, not in self-righteousness, but re-
flecting the divine nature.
Horses mistaught
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Every medical method has its advocates. The prefer-
Every medical method has its advocates. The prefer-
ence of mortal mind for a certain method creates a demand
for that method, and the body then seems to re-
quire such treatment. You can even educate a
healthy horse so far in physiology that he will take cold
without his blanket, whereas the wild animal, left to his
instincts, sniffs the wind with delight. The epizootic is
a humanly evolved ailment, which a wild horse might
never have.
Medical works objectionable
179:21
Treatises on anatomy, physiology, and health, sustained
Treatises on anatomy, physiology, and health, sustained
by what is termed material law, are the pro-
moters of sickness and disease. It should not
be proverbial, that so long as you read medical works you
will be sick.
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The sedulous matron – studying her Jahr with homoe-
The sedulous matron – studying her Jahr with homoe-
opathic pellet and powder in hand, ready to put you
into a sweat, to move the bowels, or to produce sleep –
is unwittingly sowing the seeds of reliance on matter,
and her household may erelong reap the effect of this
mistake.
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Descriptions of disease given by physicians and adver-
Descriptions of disease given by physicians and adver-
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tisements of quackery are both prolific sources of sickness.
tisements of quackery are both prolific sources of sickness.
As mortal mind is the husbandman of error, it should be
taught to do the body no harm and to uproot its false
sowing.
The invalid's outlook
180:5
The patient sufferer tries to be satisfied when he sees
The patient sufferer tries to be satisfied when he sees
his would-be healers busy, and his faith in their efforts is
somewhat helpful to them and to himself; but
in Science one must understand the resusci-
tating law of Life. This is the seed within itself bearing
fruit after its kind, spoken of in Genesis.
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Physicians should not deport themselves as if Mind
Physicians should not deport themselves as if Mind
were non-existent, nor take the ground that all causation
is matter, instead of Mind. Ignorant that the human
mind governs the body, its phenomenon, the invalid may
unwittingly add more fear to the mental reservoir already
overflowing with that emotion.
Wrong and right way
180:17
Doctors should not implant disease in the thoughts of
Doctors should not implant disease in the thoughts of
their patients, as they so frequently do, by declaring dis-
ease to be a fixed fact, even before they go to
work to eradicate the disease through the ma-
terial faith which they inspire. Instead of furnishing
thought with fear, they should try to correct this turbulent
element of mortal mind by the influence of divine Love
which casteth out fear.
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When man is governed by God, the ever-present
When man is governed by God, the ever-present
Mind who understands all things, man knows that with
God all things are possible. The only way to this
living Truth, which heals the sick, is found in the Science
of divine Mind as taught and demonstrated by Christ
Jesus.
The important decision
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To reduce inflammation, dissolve a tumor, or cure or-
To reduce inflammation, dissolve a tumor, or cure or-
ganic disease, I have found divine Truth more potent than
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all lower remedies. And why not, since Mind, God, is
all lower remedies. And why not, since Mind, God, is
the source and condition of all existence? Before decid-
ing that the body, matter, is disordered, one
should ask, "Who art thou that repliest to
Spirit? Can matter speak for itself, or does
it hold the issues of life?" Matter, which can neither
suffer nor enjoy, has no partnership with pain and pleas-
ure, but mortal belief has such a partnership.
Manipulation unscientific
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When you manipulate patients, you trust in electricity
When you manipulate patients, you trust in electricity
and magnetism more than in Truth; and for
that reason, you employ matter rather than
Mind. You weaken or destroy your power when you re-
sort to any except spiritual means.
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It is foolish to declare that you manipulate patients but
It is foolish to declare that you manipulate patients but
that you lay no stress on manipulation. If this be so, why
manipulate? In reality you manipulate because you are
ignorant of the baneful effects of magnetism, or are not
sufficiently spiritual to depend on Spirit. In either case
you must improve your mental condition till you finally
attain the understanding of Christian Science.
Not words but deeds
181:21
If you are too material to love the Science of Mind and
If you are too material to love the Science of Mind and
are satisfied with good words instead of effects, if you
adhere to error and are afraid to trust Truth,
the question then recurs, "Adam, where art
thou?" It is unnecessary to resort to aught besides
Mind in order to satisfy the sick that you are doing some-
thing for them, for if they are cured, they generally know
it and are satisfied.
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"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
If you have more faith in drugs than in Truth, this faith
will incline you to the side of matter and error. Any
hypnotic power you may exercise will diminish your
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ability to become a Scientist, and vice versa. The act
ability to become a Scientist, and vice versa. The act
of healing the sick through divine Mind alone, of casting
out error with Truth, shows your position as a Christian
Scientist.
Physiology or Spirit
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The demands of God appeal to thought only; but the
The demands of God appeal to thought only; but the
claims of mortality, and what are termed laws of nature,
appertain to matter. Which, then, are we to
accept as legitimate and capable of producing
the highest human good? We cannot obey both physi-
ology and Spirit, for one absolutely destroys the other,
and one or the other must be supreme in the affections.
It is impossible to work from two standpoints. If we
attempt it, we shall presently "hold to the one,
and despise the other."
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The hypotheses of mortals are antagonistic to Science
The hypotheses of mortals are antagonistic to Science
and cannot mix with it. This is clear to those, who heal
the sick on the basis of Science.
No material law
182:18
Mind's government of the body must supersede the so‑
Mind's government of the body must supersede the so‑
called laws of matter. Obedience to material law pre-
vents full obedience to spiritual law, – the law
which overcomes material conditions and puts
matter under the feet of Mind. Mortals entreat the di-
vine Mind to heal the sick, and forthwith shut out the aid
of Mind by using material means, thus working against
themselves and their prayers and denying man's God‑
given ability to demonstrate Mind's sacred power. Pleas
for drugs and laws of health come from some sad incident,
or else from ignorance of Christian Science and its tran-
scendent power.
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To admit that sickness is a condition over which God
To admit that sickness is a condition over which God
has no control, is to presuppose that omnipotent power
is powerless on some occasions. The law of Christ, or
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Truth, makes all things possible to Spirit; but the so‑
Truth, makes all things possible to Spirit; but the so‑
called laws of matter would render Spirit of no avail, and
demand obedience to materialistic codes, thus departing
from the basis of one God, one lawmaker. To suppose
that God constitutes laws of inharmony is a mistake; dis-
cords have no support from nature or divine law, however
much is said to the contrary.
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Can the agriculturist, according to belief, produce a
Can the agriculturist, according to belief, produce a
crop without sowing the seed and awaiting its germina-
tion according to the laws of nature? The answer is no,
and yet the Scriptures inform us that sin, or error, first
caused the condemnation of man to till the ground, and
indicate that obedience to God will remove this necessity.
Truth never made error necessary, nor devised a law to
perpetuate error.
Laws of nature spiritual
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The supposed laws which result in weariness and dis-
The supposed laws which result in weariness and dis-
ease are not His laws, for the legitimate and only possible
action of Truth is the production of harmony.
Laws of nature are laws of Spirit; but mortals
commonly recognize as law that which hides the power of
Spirit. Divine Mind rightly demands man's entire obe-
dience, affection, and strength. No reservation is made
for any lesser loyalty. Obedience to Truth gives man
power and strength. Submission to error superinduces
loss of power.
Belief and understanding
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Truth casts out all evils and materialistic methods
Truth casts out all evils and materialistic methods
with the actual spiritual law, – the law which gives
sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, voice
to the dumb, feet to the lame. If Christian
Science dishonors human belief, it honors spir-
itual understanding; and the one Mind only is entitled to
honor.
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The so-called laws of health are simply laws of mortal
The so-called laws of health are simply laws of mortal
belief. The premises being erroneous, the conclusions
are wrong. Truth makes no laws to regulate sickness,
sin, and death, for these are unknown to Truth and should
not be recognized as reality.
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Belief produces the results of belief, and the penal-
Belief produces the results of belief, and the penal-
ties it affixes last so long as the belief and are insepara-
ble from it. The remedy consists in probing the trouble
to the bottom, in finding and casting out by denial the
error of belief which produces a mortal disorder, never
honoring erroneous belief with the title of law nor yield-
ing obedience to it. Truth, Life, and Love are the only
legitimate and eternal demands on man, and they are
spiritual lawgivers, enforcing obedience through divine
statutes.
Laws of human belief
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Controlled by the divine intelligence, man is harmoni-
Controlled by the divine intelligence, man is harmoni-
ous and eternal. Whatever is governed by a false belief
is discordant and mortal. We say man suffers
from the effects of cold, heat, fatigue. This
is human belief, not the truth of being, for matter cannot
suffer. Mortal mind alone suffers, – not because a law
of matter has been transgressed, but because a law of this
so-called mind has been disobeyed. I have demonstrated
this as a rule of divine Science by destroying the delusion
of suffering from what is termed a fatally broken physical
law.
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A woman, whom I cured of consumption, always
A woman, whom I cured of consumption, always
breathed with great difficulty when the wind was from
the east. I sat silently by her side a few moments. Her
breath came gently. The inspirations were deep and nat-
ural. I then requested her to look at the weather-vane.
She looked and saw that it pointed due east. The wind
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had not changed, but her thought of it had and so her diffi-
had not changed, but her thought of it had and so her diffi-
culty in breathing had gone. The wind had not produced
the difficulty. My metaphysical treatment changed the
action of her belief on the lungs, and she never suffered
again from east winds, but was restored to health.
A so-called mind-cure
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No system of hygiene but Christian Science is purely
No system of hygiene but Christian Science is purely
mental. Before this book was published, other books
were in circulation, which discussed "mental
medicine" and "mind-cure," operating through
the power of the earth's magnetic currents to regulate life
and health. Such theories and such systems of so-called
mind-cure, which have sprung up, are as material as the
prevailing systems of medicine. They have their birth
in mortal mind, which puts forth a human conception
in the name of Science to match the divine Science of im-
mortal Mind, even as the necromancers of Egypt strove
to emulate the wonders wrought by Moses. Such theories
have no relationship to Christian Science, which rests on
the conception of God as the only Life, substance, and
intelligence, and excludes the human mind as a spiritual
factor in the healing work.
Jesus and hypnotism
185:22
Jesus cast out evil and healed the sick, not only with-
Jesus cast out evil and healed the sick, not only with-
out drugs, but without hypnotism, which is
the reverse of ethical and pathological Truth-
power.
185:26
Erroneous mental practice may seem for a time to bene-
Erroneous mental practice may seem for a time to bene-
fit the sick, but the recovery is not permanent. This is
because erroneous methods act on and through the ma-
terial stratum of the human mind, called brain, which is
but a mortal consolidation of material mentality and its
suppositional activities.
False stimulus
185:32
A patient under the influence of mortal mind is healed
A patient under the influence of mortal mind is healed
186:1
only by removing the influence on him of this mind, by
only by removing the influence on him of this mind, by
emptying his thought of the false stimulus
and reaction of will-power and filling it with
the divine energies of Truth.
186:5
Christian Science destroys material beliefs through the
Christian Science destroys material beliefs through the
understanding of Spirit, and the thoroughness of this work
determines health. Erring human mind-forces can work
only evil under whatever name or pretence they are em-
ployed; for Spirit and matter, good and evil, light and
darkness, cannot mingle.
Evil negative and self-destructive
186:11
Evil is a negation, because it is the absence of truth.
Evil is a negation, because it is the absence of truth.
It is nothing, because it is the absence of something. It
is unreal, because it presupposes the absence
of God, the omnipotent and omnipresent.
Every mortal must learn that there is neither
power nor reality in evil.
186:17
Evil is self-assertive. It says: "I am a real entity, over-
Evil is self-assertive. It says: "I am a real entity, over-
mastering good." This falsehood should strip evil of all
pretensions. The only power of evil is to destroy itself. It
can never destroy one iota of good. Every attempt of evil
to destroy good is a failure, and only aids in peremptorily
punishing the evil-doer. If we concede the same reality to
discord as to harmony, discord has as lasting a claim upon
us as has harmony. If evil is as real as good, evil is also as
immortal. If death is as real as Life, immortality is a myth.
If pain is as real as the absence of pain, both must be im-
mortal; and if so, harmony cannot be the law of being.
Ignorant idolatry
186:28
Mortal mind is ignorant of self, or it could never be
Mortal mind is ignorant of self, or it could never be
self-deceived. If mortal mind knew how to be better, it
would be better. Since it must believe in some-
thing besides itself, it enthrones matter as deity.
The human mind has been an idolater from the beginning,