Chapter VIII - Footsteps Of Truth
Error self-destroyed
251:1
Error is not real, hence it is not more imperative
Error is not real, hence it is not more imperative
as it hastens towards self-destruction. The so-called
belief of mortal mind apparent as an abscess
should not grow more painful before it suppu-
rates neither should a fever become more severe before
it ends.
Illusion of death
251:7
Fright is so great at certain stages of mortal belief
Fright is so great at certain stages of mortal belief
as to drive belief into new paths. In the illusion of
death, mortals wake to the knowledge of two
facts: (1) that they are not dead; (2) that
they have but passed the portals of a new belief. Truth
works out the nothingness of error in just these ways.
Sickness, as well as sin, is an error that Christ, Truth,
alone can destroy.
Mortal mind's disappearance
251:15
We must learn how mankind govern the body, –
We must learn how mankind govern the body, –
whether through faith in hygiene, in drugs, or in will‑
power. We should learn whether they govern
the body through a belief in the necessity of
sickness and death, sin and pardon, or govern
it from the higher understanding that the divine Mind
makes perfect, acts upon the so-called human mind
through truth, leads the human mind to relinquish all
error, to find the divine Mind to be the only Mind,
and the healer of sin, disease, death. This process of
higher spiritual understanding improves mankind until
error disappears, and nothing is left which deserves to
perish or to be punished.
Spiritual ignorance
251:28
Ignorance, like intentional wrong, is not Science.
Ignorance, like intentional wrong, is not Science.
Ignorance must be seen and corrected before we can at-
tain harmony. Inharmonious beliefs, which
rob Mind, calling it matter, and deify their
own notions, imprison themselves in what they create.
252:1
They are at war with Science, and as our Master said,
They are at war with Science, and as our Master said,
"If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand."
252:4
Human ignorance of Mind and of the recuperative
Human ignorance of Mind and of the recuperative
energies of Truth occasions the only skepticism regard-
ing the pathology and theology of Christian Science.
Eternal man recognized
252:7
When false human beliefs learn even a little of their
When false human beliefs learn even a little of their
own falsity, they begin to disappear. A knowledge of
error and of its operations must precede that
understanding of Truth which destroys error,
until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears,
and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit,
is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his
Maker.
252:15
The false evidence of material sense contrasts strikingly
The false evidence of material sense contrasts strikingly
with the testimony of Spirit. Material sense lifts its voice
with the arrogance of reality and says:
Testimony of sense
252:18
I am wholly dishonest, and no man knoweth it. I can
I am wholly dishonest, and no man knoweth it. I can
cheat, lie, commit adultery, rob, murder, and I elude
detection by smooth-tongued villainy. Ani-
mal in propensity, deceitful in sentiment,
fraudulent in purpose, I mean to make my short span
of life one gala day. What a nice thing is sin! How
sin succeeds, where the good purpose waits! The world
is my kingdom. I am enthroned in the gorgeousness
of matter. But a touch, an accident, the law of God,
may at any moment annihilate my peace, for all my
fancied joys are fatal. Like bursting lava, I expand but
to my own despair, and shine with the resplendency of
consuming fire.
252:31
Spirit, bearing opposite testimony, saith:
Spirit, bearing opposite testimony, saith:
Testimony of Soul
252:32
I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my
I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my