Chapter XII - Christian Science Practice
431:1
I must remain silent until called for at this trial, when I
I must remain silent until called for at this trial, when I
would be allowed to testify in the case. Notwithstanding
my rules to the contrary, the prisoner watched with the sick
every night in the week. When the sick mortal was thirsty,
the prisoner gave him drink. During all this time the pris-
oner attended to his daily labors, partaking of food at ir-
regular intervals, sometimes going to sleep immediately
after a heavy meal. At last he committed liver-complaint,
which I considered criminal, inasmuch as this offence is
deemed punishable with death. Therefore I arrested Mor-
tal Man in behalf of the state (namely, the body) and cast
him into prison.
431:13
At the time of the arrest the prisoner summoned Physi-
At the time of the arrest the prisoner summoned Physi-
ology, Materia Medica, and Hypnotism to prevent his pun-
ishment. The struggle on their part was long. Materia
Medica held out the longest, but at length all these assist-
ants resigned to me, Health-laws, and I succeeded in get-
ting Mortal Man into close confinement until I should
release him.
431:20
The next witness is called:-
The next witness is called:-
431:21
I am Coated Tongue. I am covered with a foul fur,
I am Coated Tongue. I am covered with a foul fur,
placed on me the night of the liver-attack. Morbid Secre-
tion hypnotized the prisoner and took control of his mind,
making him despondent.
431:25
Another witness takes the stand and testifies:-
Another witness takes the stand and testifies:-
431:26
I am Sallow Skin. I have been dry, hot, and chilled by
I am Sallow Skin. I have been dry, hot, and chilled by
turns since the night of the liver-attack. I have lost my
healthy hue and become unsightly, although nothing on my
part has occasioned this change. I practise daily ablutions
and perform my functions as usual, but I am robbed of my
good looks.
432:1
The next witness testifies: –
The next witness testifies: –
432:2
I am Nerve, the State Commissioner for Mortal Man.
I am Nerve, the State Commissioner for Mortal Man.
I am intimately acquainted with the plaintiff, Personal
Sense, and know him to be truthful and upright, whereas
Mortal Man, the prisoner at the bar, is capable of false-
hood. I was witness to the crime of liver-complaint. I
knew the prisoner would commit it, for I convey messages
from my residence in matter, alias brain, to body.
432:9
Another witness is called for by the Court of Error
Another witness is called for by the Court of Error
and says: –
432:11
I am Mortality, Governor of the Province of Body, in
I am Mortality, Governor of the Province of Body, in
which Mortal Man resides. In this province there is a stat-
ute regarding disease, – namely, that he upon whose per-
son disease is found shall be treated as a criminal and
punished with death.
432:16
The Judge asks if by doing good to his neighbor, it is
The Judge asks if by doing good to his neighbor, it is
possible for man to become diseased, transgress the laws,
and merit punishment, and Governor Mortality replies in
the affirmative.
432:20
Another witness takes the stand and testifies: –
Another witness takes the stand and testifies: –
432:21
I am Death. I was called for, shortly after the report of
I am Death. I was called for, shortly after the report of
the crime, by the officer of the Board of Health, who pro-
tested that the prisoner had abused him, and that my pres-
ence was required to confirm his testimony. One of the
prisoner's friends, Materia Medica, was present when I
arrived, endeavoring to assist the prisoner to escape from
the hands of justice, alias nature's so-called law; but my
appearance with a message from the Board of Health
changed the purpose of Materia Medica, and he decided at
once that the prisoner should die.
Judge Medicine charges the jury
433:1
The testimony for the plaintiff, Personal Sense, being
The testimony for the plaintiff, Personal Sense, being
closed, Judge Medicine arises, and with great solemnity
addresses the jury of Mortal Minds. He an-
alyzes the offence, reviews the testimony, and
explains the law relating to liver-complaint.
His conclusion is, that laws of nature render disease
homicidal. In compliance with a stern duty, his Honor,
Judge Medicine, urges the jury not to allow their judg-
ment to be warped by the irrational, unchristian sugges-
tions of Christian Science. The jury must regard in such
cases only the evidence of Personal Sense against Mortal
Man.
433:13
As the Judge proceeds, the prisoner grows restless. His
As the Judge proceeds, the prisoner grows restless. His
sallow face blanches with fear, and a look of despair and
death settles upon it. The case is given to the jury. A
brief consultation ensues, and the jury returns a verdict
of "Guilty of liver-complaint in the first degree."
Mortal Man sentenced
433:18
Judge Medicine then proceeds to pronounce the solemn
Judge Medicine then proceeds to pronounce the solemn
sentence of death upon the prisoner. Because he has
loved his neighbor as himself, Mortal Man has
been guilty of benevolence in the first degree,
and this has led him into the commission of the second
crime, liver-complaint, which material laws condemn as
homicide. For this crime Mortal Man is sentenced to
be tortured until he is dead. "May God have mercy on
your soul," is the Judge's solemn peroration.
433:27
The prisoner is then remanded to his cell (sick-bed),
The prisoner is then remanded to his cell (sick-bed),
and Scholastic Theology is sent for to prepare the fright-
ened sense of Life, God, – which sense must be immortal,
– for death.
Appeal to a higher tribunal
433:31
Ah! but Christ, Truth, the spirit of Life and the
Ah! but Christ, Truth, the spirit of Life and the
friend of Mortal Man, can open wide those prison doors
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.
436:1
The principal witness (the officer of the Health-laws)
The principal witness (the officer of the Health-laws)
deposed that he was an eye-witness to the good deeds for
which Mortal Man is under sentence of death. After be-
traying him into the hands of your law, the Health-agent
disappeared, to reappear however at the trial as a witness
against Mortal Man and in the interest of Personal Sense,
a murderer. Your Supreme Court must find the pris-
oner on the night of the alleged offence to have been acting
within the limits of the divine law, and in obedience
thereto. Upon this statute hangs all the law and testimony.
Giving a cup of cold water in Christ's name, is a Christian
service. Laying down his life for a good deed, Mortal Man
should find it again. Such acts bear their own justifica-
tion, and are under the protection of the Most High.
436:15
Prior to the night of his arrest, the prisoner summoned
Prior to the night of his arrest, the prisoner summoned
two professed friends, Materia Medica and Physiology, to
prevent his committing liver-complaint, and thus save him
from arrest. But they brought with them Fear, the sheriff,
to precipitate the result which they were called to prevent.
It was Fear who handcuffed Mortal Man and would now
punish him. You have left Mortal Man no alternative.
He must obey your law, fear its consequences, and be pun-
ished for his fear. His friends struggled hard to rescue the
prisoner from the penalty they considered justly due, but
they were compelled to let him be taken into custody, tried,
and condemned. Thereupon Judge Medicine sat in judg-
ment on the case, and substantially charged the jury, twelve
Mortal Minds, to find the prisoner guilty. His Honor sen-
tenced Mortal Man to die for the very deeds which the di-
vine law compels man to commit. Thus the Court of Error
construed obedience to the law of divine Love as disobedi-
ence to the law of Life. Claiming to protect Mortal Man
in right-doing, that court pronounced a sentence of death
for doing right.
436:35
One of the principal witnesses, Nerve, testified that he
One of the principal witnesses, Nerve, testified that he
437:1
was a ruler of Body, in which province Mortal Man resides.
was a ruler of Body, in which province Mortal Man resides.
He also testified that he was on intimate terms with the
plaintiff, and knew Personal Sense to be truthful; that he
knew Man, and that Man was made in the image of God,
but was a criminal. This is a foul aspersion on man's
Maker. It blots the fair escutcheon of omnipotence. It in-
dicates malice aforethought, a determination to condemn
Man in the interest of Personal Sense. At the bar of Truth,
in the presence of divine Justice, before the Judge of our
higher tribunal, the Supreme Court of Spirit, and before
its jurors, the Spiritual Senses, I proclaim this witness,
Nerve, to be destitute of intelligence and truth and to be
a false witness.
437:14
Man self-destroyed; the testimony of matter respected;
Man self-destroyed; the testimony of matter respected;
Spirit not allowed a hearing; Soul a criminal though
recommended to mercy; the helpless innocent body tor-
tured, – these are the terrible records of your Court of
Error, and I ask that the Supreme Court of Spirit reverse
this decision.
437:20
Here the opposing counsel, False Belief, called Chris-
Here the opposing counsel, False Belief, called Chris-
tian Science to order for contempt of court. Various
notables – Materia Medica, Anatomy, Physiology, Scho-
lastic Theology, and Jurisprudence – rose to the ques-
tion of expelling Christian Science from the bar, for such
high-handed illegality. They declared that Christian Sci-
ence was overthrowing the judicial proceedings of a regu-
larly constituted court.
437:28
But Judge Justice of the Supreme Court of Spirit over-
But Judge Justice of the Supreme Court of Spirit over-
ruled their motions on the ground that unjust usages
were not allowed at the bar of Truth, which ranks above
the lower Court of Error.
437:32
The attorney, Christian Science, then read from the
The attorney, Christian Science, then read from the
supreme statute-book, the Bible, certain extracts on the
438:1
Rights of Man, remarking, that the Bible was better au-
Rights of Man, remarking, that the Bible was better au-
thority than Blackstone: –
438:3
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and
Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and
let them have dominion.
438:5
Behold, I give unto you power . . . over all the power
Behold, I give unto you power . . . over all the power
of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
438:7
If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
438:8
Then Christian Science proved the witness, Nerve, to
Then Christian Science proved the witness, Nerve, to
be a perjurer. Instead of being a ruler in the Province
of Body, in which Mortal Man was reported to reside,
Nerve was an insubordinate citizen, putting in false
claims to office and bearing false witness against Man.
Turning suddenly to Personal Sense, by this time silent,
Christian Science continued: –
438:15
I ask your arrest in the name of Almighty God on three
I ask your arrest in the name of Almighty God on three
distinct charges of crime, to wit: perjury, treason, and con-
spiracy against the rights and life of man.
438:18
Then Christian Science continued:
Then Christian Science continued:
438:19
Another witness, equally inadequate, said that on the
Another witness, equally inadequate, said that on the
night of the crime a garment of foul fur was spread over
him by Morbid Secretion, while the facts in the case show
that this fur is a foreign substance, imported by False Be-
lief, the attorney for Personal Sense, who is in partnership
with Error and smuggles Error's goods into market with-
out the inspection of Soul's government officers. When
the Court of Truth summoned Furred Tongue for examina-
tion, he disappeared and was never heard of more.
438:28
Morbid Secretion is not an importer or dealer in fur, but
Morbid Secretion is not an importer or dealer in fur, but
we have heard Materia Medica explain how this fur is
manufactured, and we know Morbid Secretion to be on
friendly terms with the firm of Personal Sense, Error, &
439:1
Co., receiving pay from them and introducing their goods
Co., receiving pay from them and introducing their goods
into the market. Also, be it known that False Belief, the
counsel for the plaintiff, Personal Sense, is a buyer for this
firm. He manufactures for it, keeps a furnishing store,
and advertises largely for his employers.
439:6
Death testified that he was absent from the Province of
Death testified that he was absent from the Province of
Body, when a message came from False Belief, command-
ing him to take part in the homicide. At this request
Death repaired to the spot where the liver-complaint was
in process, frightening away Materia Medica, who was then
manacling the prisoner in the attempt to save him. True,
Materia Medica was a misguided participant in the misdeed
for which the Health-officer had Mortal Man in custody,
though Mortal Man was innocent.
439:15
Christian Science turned from the abashed witnesses,
Christian Science turned from the abashed witnesses,
his words flashing as lightning in the perturbed faces
of these worthies, Scholastic Theology, Materia Medica,
Physiology, the blind Hypnotism, and the masked Per-
sonal Sense, and said: –
439:20
God will smite you, O whited walls, for injuring in your
God will smite you, O whited walls, for injuring in your
ignorance the unfortunate Mortal Man who sought your
aid in his struggles against liver-complaint and Death.
You came to his rescue, only to fasten upon him an offence
of which he was innocent. You aided and abetted Fear
and Health-laws. You betrayed Mortal Man, meanwhile
declaring Disease to be God's servant and the righteous
executor of His laws. Our higher statutes declare you all,
witnesses, jurors, and judges, to be offenders, awaiting the
sentence which General Progress and Divine Love will
pronounce.
439:31
We send our best detectives to whatever locality is re-
We send our best detectives to whatever locality is re-
ported to be haunted by Disease, but on visiting the spot,
they learn that Disease was never there, for he could not
440:1
possibly elude their search. Your Material Court of Errors,
possibly elude their search. Your Material Court of Errors,
when it condemned Mortal Man on the ground of hygienic
disobedience, was manipulated by the oleaginous machina-
tions of the counsel, False Belief, whom Truth arraigns
before the supreme bar of Spirit to answer for his crime.
Morbid Secretion is taught how to make sleep befool reason
before sacrificing mortals to their false gods.
440:8
Mortal Minds were deceived by your attorney, False Be-
Mortal Minds were deceived by your attorney, False Be-
lief, and were influenced to give a verdict delivering Mortal
Man to Death. Good deeds are transformed into crimes,
to which you attach penalties; but no warping of justice
can render disobedience to the so-called laws of Matter
disobedience to God, or an act of homicide. Even penal
law holds homicide, under stress of circumstances, to be
justifiable. Now what greater justification can any deed
have, than that it is for the good of one's neighbor? Where-
fore, then, in the name of outraged justice, do you sentence
Mortal Man for ministering to the wants of his fellow-man
in obedience to divine law? You cannot trample upon the
decree of the Supreme Bench. Mortal Man has his appeal
to Spirit, God, who sentences only for sin.
440:22
The false and unjust beliefs of your human mental legis-
The false and unjust beliefs of your human mental legis-
lators compel them to enact wicked laws of sickness and so
forth, and then render obedience to these laws punishable
as crime. In the presence of the Supreme Lawgiver, stand-
ing at the bar of Truth, and in accordance with the divine
statutes, I repudiate the false testimony of Personal Sense.
I ask that he be forbidden to enter against Mortal Man
any more suits to be tried at the Court of Material Error.
I appeal to the just and equitable decisions of divine Spirit
to restore to Mortal Man the rights of which he has been
deprived.
Charge of the Chief Justice
440:33
Here the counsel for the defence closed, and the Chief
Here the counsel for the defence closed, and the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, with benign and imposing
441:1
presence, comprehending and defining all law and evi-
presence, comprehending and defining all law and evi-
dence, explained from his statute-book, the
Bible, that any so-called law, which under-
takes to punish aught but sin, is null and void.
441:5
He also decided that the plaintiff, Personal Sense, be
He also decided that the plaintiff, Personal Sense, be
not permitted to enter any suits at the bar of Soul, but
be enjoined to keep perpetual silence, and in case of
temptation, to give heavy bonds for good behavior. He
concluded his charge thus: –
441:10
The plea of False Belief we deem unworthy of a hearing.
The plea of False Belief we deem unworthy of a hearing.
Let what False Belief utters, now and forever, fall into
oblivion, "unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown." Accord-
ing to our statute, Material Law is a liar who cannot bear
witness against Mortal Man, neither can Fear arrest Mortal
Man nor can Disease cast him into prison. Our law refuses
to recognize Man as sick or dying, but holds him to be for-
ever in the image and likeness of his Maker. Reversing the
testimony of Personal Sense and the decrees of the Court of
Error in favor of Matter, Spirit decides in favor of Man
and against Matter. We further recommend that Materia
Medica adopt Christian Science and that Health-laws,
Mesmerism, Hypnotism, Oriental Witchcraft, and Esoteric
Magic be publicly executed at the hands of our sheriff,
Progress.
441:25
The Supreme Bench decides in favor of intelligence, that
The Supreme Bench decides in favor of intelligence, that
no law outside of divine Mind can punish or reward Mortal
Man. Your personal jurors in the Court of Error are
myths. Your attorney, False Belief, is an impostor, per-
suading Mortal Minds to return a verdict contrary to law
and gospel. The plaintiff, Personal Sense, is recorded in
our Book of books as a liar. Our great Teacher of mental
jurisprudence speaks of him also as "a murderer from the
beginning." We have no trials for sickness before the tri-
442:1
bunal of divine Spirit. There, Man is adjudged innocent
bunal of divine Spirit. There, Man is adjudged innocent
of transgressing physical laws, because there are no such
laws. Our statute is spiritual, our Government is divine.
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
Divine verdict
442:5
The Jury of Spiritual Senses agreed at once upon a
The Jury of Spiritual Senses agreed at once upon a
verdict, and there resounded throughout the vast audience-
chamber of Spirit the cry, Not guilty. Then
the prisoner rose up regenerated, strong, free.
We noticed, as he shook hands with his counsel, Chris-
tian Science, that all sallowness and debility had dis-
appeared. His form was erect and commanding, his
countenance beaming with health and happiness. Divine
Love had cast out fear. Mortal Man, no longer sick
and in prison, walked forth, his feet "beautiful upon the
mountains," as of one "that bringeth good tidings."
Christ the great physician
442:16
Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into
Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into
the practice of Christian Science, in which truth cannot
be reversed, but the reverse of error is true.
An improved belief cannot retrograde. When
Christ changes a belief of sin or of sickness into
a better belief, then belief melts into spiritual understand-
ing, and sin, disease, and death disappear. Christ, Truth,
gives mortals temporary food and clothing until the ma-
terial, transformed with the ideal, disappears, and man
is clothed and fed spiritually. St. Paul says, "Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling:" Jesus
said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom." This truth is
Christian Science.
442:30
Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental
Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental
malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when
awake.
Chapter XIII
Teaching Christian Science
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just
man, and he will increase in learning. – PROVERBS.
Study of medicine
443:1
WHEN the discoverer of Christian Science is con-
WHEN the discoverer of Christian Science is con-
sulted by her followers as to the propriety, advan-
tage, and consistency of systematic medical
study, she tries to show them that under ordi-
nary circumstances a resort to faith in corporeal means
tends to deter those, who make such a compromise, from
entire confidence in omnipotent Mind as really possessing
all power. While a course of medical study is at times
severely condemned by some Scientists, she feels, as she
always has felt, that all are privileged to work out their
own salvation according to their light, and that our motto
should be the Master's counsel, "Judge not, that ye be
not judged."
Failure's lessons
443:14
If patients fail to experience the healing power of
If patients fail to experience the healing power of
Christian Science, and think they can be benefited by
certain ordinary physical methods of medical
treatment, then the Mind-physician should
give up such cases, and leave invalids free to resort to
whatever other systems they fancy will afford relief.
Thus such invalids may learn the value of the apostolic
precept: "Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine." If the sick find these material expedients
444:1
unsatisfactory, and they receive no help from them, these
unsatisfactory, and they receive no help from them, these
very failures may open their blind eyes. In some way,
sooner or later, all must rise superior to materiality, and
suffering is oft the divine agent in this elevation. "All
things work together for good to them that love God," is
the dictum of Scripture.
Refuge and strength
444:7
If Christian Scientists ever fail to receive aid from
If Christian Scientists ever fail to receive aid from
other Scientists, – their brethren upon whom they may
call, – God will still guide them into the right
use of temporary and eternal means. Step by
step will those who trust Him find that "God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Charity to those opposed
444:13
Students are advised by the author to be charitable
Students are advised by the author to be charitable
and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion
and medicine, but to those who hold these dif-
fering opinions. Let us be faithful in pointing
the way through Christ, as we understand it,
but let us also be careful always to "judge righteous judg-
ment," and never to condemn rashly. "Whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
That is, Fear not that he will smite thee again for thy for-
bearance. If ecclesiastical sects or medical schools turn
a deaf ear to the teachings of Christian Science, then part
from these opponents as did Abraham when he parted
from Lot, and say in thy heart: "Let there be no strife, I
pray thee, between me and thee, and between My herd-
men and thy herdmen; for we be brethren." Immortals,
or God's children in divine Science, are one harmonious
family; but mortals, or the "children of men" in material
sense, are discordant and ofttimes false brethren.
Conforming to explicit rules
444:31
The teacher must make clear to students the Science
The teacher must make clear to students the Science
of healing, especially its ethics, – that all is Mind, and
445:1
that the Scientist must conform to God's requirements.
that the Scientist must conform to God's requirements.
Also the teacher must thoroughly fit his students to defend
themselves against sin, and to guard against the
attacks of the would-be mental assassin, who
attempts to kill morally and physically. No
hypothesis as to the existence of another power should
interpose a doubt or fear to hinder the demonstration of
Christian Science. Unfold the latent energies and capac-
ities for good in your pupil. Teach the great possibilities
of man endued with divine Science. Teach the dangerous
possibility of dwarfing the spiritual understanding and
demonstration of Truth by sin, or by recourse to material
means for healing. Teach the meekness and might of life
"hid with Christ in God," and there will be no desire for
other healing methods. You render the divine law of
healing obscure and void, when you weigh the human in
the scale with the divine, or limit in any direction of
thought the omnipresence and omnipotence of God.
Divine energy
445:19
Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with
Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with
Truth and Love, and illustrates the unlabored motion
of the divine energy in healing the sick. Self‑
seeking, envy, passion, pride, hatred, and
revenge are cast out by the divine Mind which heals
disease. The human will which maketh and worketh a lie,
hiding the divine Principle of harmony, is destructive to
health, and is the cause of disease rather than its cure.
Blight of avarice
445:27
There is great danger in teaching Mind-healing indis-
There is great danger in teaching Mind-healing indis-
criminately, thus disregarding the morals of the student
and caring only for the fees. Recalling Jeffer-
son's words about slavery, "I tremble, when I
remember that God is just," the author trembles whenever
she sees a man, for the petty consideration of money,
446:1
teaching his slight knowledge of Mind-power, – per-
teaching his slight knowledge of Mind-power, – per-
haps communicating his own bad morals, and in this way
dealing pitilessly with a community unprepared for self‑
defence.
446:5
A thorough perusal of the author's publications heals
A thorough perusal of the author's publications heals
sickness. If patients sometimes seem worse while read-
ing this book, the change may either arise from the alarm
of the physician, or it may mark the crisis of the disease.
Perseverance in the perusal of the book has generally
completely healed such cases.
Exclusion of malpractice
446:11
Whoever practises the Science the author teaches,
Whoever practises the Science the author teaches,
through which Mind pours light and healing upon this
generation, can practise on no one from sin-
ister or malicious motives without destroying
his own power to heal and his own health. Good must
dominate in the thoughts of the healer, or his demon-
stration is protracted, dangerous, and impossible in Sci-
ence. A wrong motive involves defeat. In the Science
of Mind-healing, it is imperative to be honest, for victory
rests on the side of immutable right. To understand
God strengthens hope, enthrones faith in Truth, and
verifies Jesus' word: "Lo, I am with you alway, even
unto the end of the world."
Iniquity overcome
446:24
Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothing-
Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothing-
ness. Not human platitudes, but divine beatitudes, re-
flect the spiritual light and might which heal
the sick. The exercise of will brings on a
hypnotic state, detrimental to health and integrity of
thought. This must therefore be watched and guarded
against. Covering iniquity will prevent prosperity and the
ultimate triumph of any cause. Ignorance of the error
to be eradicated oftentimes subjects you to its abuse.
No trespass on human rights
447:1
The heavenly law is broken by trespassing upon
The heavenly law is broken by trespassing upon
man's individual right of self-government. We have no
authority in Christian Science and no moral
right to attempt to influence the thoughts of
others, except it be to benefit them. In men-
tal practice you must not forget that erring human opin-
ions, conflicting selfish motives, and ignorant attempts
to do good may render you incapable of knowing or
judging accurately the need of your fellow-men. There-
fore the rule is, heal the sick when called upon for aid,
and save the victims of the mental assassins.
Expose sin without believing in it
447:12
Ignorance, subtlety, or false charity does not for-
Ignorance, subtlety, or false charity does not for-
ever conceal error; evil will in time disclose and pun-
ish itself. The recuperative action of the
system, when mentally sustained by Truth,
goes on naturally. When sin or sickness –
the reverse of harmony – seems true to material sense,
impart without frightening or discouraging the pa-
tient the truth and spiritual understanding, which de-
stroy disease. Expose and denounce the claims of
evil and disease in all their forms, but realize no
reality in them. A sinner is not reformed merely
by assuring him that he cannot be a sinner because
there is no sin. To put down the claim of sin,
you must detect it, remove the mask, point out the
illusion, and thus get the victory over sin and so prove
its unreality. The sick are not healed merely by
declaring there is no sickness, but by knowing that
there is none.
Wicked evasions
447:30
A sinner is afraid to cast the first stone. He may
A sinner is afraid to cast the first stone. He may
say, as a subterfuge, that evil is unreal, but to know it,
he must demonstrate his statement. To assume that