Science and Health
with Key to The Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy
Chapter XIII - Teaching Christian Science

 

Reliable authority
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not deny the mathematician's right to distinguish the cor-
rect from the incorrect among the examples on the black-
board, nor disbelieve the musician when he distinguishes
concord from discord. In like manner it should be granted
that the author understands what she is saying.
Winning the field
453:6
Right and wrong, truth and error, will be at strife in
the minds of students, until victory rests on the side of
invincible truth. Mental chemicalization fol-
lows the explanation of Truth, and a higher
basis is thus won; but with some individuals the morbid
moral or physical symptoms constantly reappear. I
have never witnessed so decided effects from the use of
material remedies as from the use of spiritual.
Knowledge and honesty
453:14
Teach your student that he must know himself be-
fore he can know others and minister to human needs.
Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is
human weakness, which forfeits divine help.
You uncover sin, not in order to injure, but in order
to bless the corporeal man; and a right motive has
its reward. Hidden sin is spiritual wickedness in high
places. The masquerader in this Science thanks God
that there is no evil, yet serves evil in the name of
good.
Metaphysical treatment
453:24
You should treat sickness mentally just as you would
sin, except that you must not tell the patient that he is
sick nor give names to diseases, for such a
course increases fear, the foundation of dis-
ease, and impresses more deeply the wrong mind-picture.
A Christian Scientist's medicine is Mind, the divine Truth
that makes man free. A Christian Scientist never recom-
mends material hygiene, never manipulates. He does
not trespass on the rights of mind nor can he practise
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animal magnetism or hypnotism. It need not be added
that the use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in
harmony with Christian Science.
Impotence of hate
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Teach your students the omnipotence of Truth, which
illustrates the impotence of error. The understanding,
even in a degree, of the divine All-power de-
stroys fear, and plants the feet in the true path,
– the path which leads to the house built without hands
"eternal in the heavens." Human hate has no legiti-
mate mandate and no kingdom. Love is enthroned.
That evil or matter has neither intelligence nor power,
is the doctrine of absolute Christian Science, and this is
the great truth which strips all disguise from error.
Love the incentive
454:14
He, who understands in sufficient degree the Princi-
ple of Mind-healing, points out to his student error as
well as truth, the wrong as well as the right
practice. Love for God and man is the true
incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires,
illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives
give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to
speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of
Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the
waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept.
Patience must "have her perfect work."
Continuity of interest
454:25
Do not dismiss students at the close of a class term,
feeling that you have no more to do for them. Let your
loving care and counsel support all their feeble
footsteps, until your students tread firmly in
the straight and narrow way. The superiority of spir-
itual power over sensuous is the central point of Chris-
tian Science. Remember that the letter and mental
argument are only human auxiliaries to aid in bringing
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thought into accord with the spirit of Truth and Love,
which heals the sick and the sinner.
Weakness and guilt
455:3
A mental state of self-condemnation and guilt or a
faltering and doubting trust in Truth are unsuitable
conditions for healing the sick. Such mental
states indicate weakness instead of strength.
Hence the necessity of being right yourself in order to
teach this Science of healing. You must utilize the moral
might of Mind in order to walk over the waves of error
and support your claims by demonstration. If you are
yourself lost in the belief and fear of disease or sin, and
if, knowing the remedy, you fail to use the energies of
Mind in your own behalf, you can exercise little or no
power for others' help. "First cast out the beam out
of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast
out the mote out of thy brother's eye."
The trust of the All-wise
455:17
The student, who receives his knowledge of Christian
Science, or metaphysical healing, from a human teacher,
may be mistaken in judgment and demonstra-
tion, but God cannot mistake. God selects
for the highest service one who has grown into such a
fitness for it as renders any abuse of the mission an im-
possibility. The All-wise does not bestow His highest
trusts upon the unworthy. When He commissions a mes-
senger, it is one who is spiritually near Himself. No per-
son can misuse this mental power, if he is taught of God
to discern it.
Integrity assured
455:28
This strong point in Christian Science is not to be
overlooked, – that the same fountain cannot send forth
both sweet waters and bitter. The higher
your attainment in the Science of mental
healing and teaching, the more impossible it will be-
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come for you intentionally to influence mankind adverse
to its highest hope and achievement.
Chicanery impossible
456:3
Teaching or practising in the name of Truth, but con-
trary to its spirit or rules, is most dangerous quackery.
Strict adherence to the divine Principle and
rules of the scientific method has secured
the only success of the students of Christian Science.
This alone entitles them to the high standing which
most of them hold in the community, a reputation ex-
perimentally justified by their efforts. Whoever af-
firms that there is more than one Principle and method
of demonstrating Christian Science greatly errs, igno-
rantly or intentionally, and separates himself from the
true conception of Christian Science healing and from
its possible demonstration.
No dishonest concessions
456:16
Any dishonesty in your theory and practice betrays a
gross ignorance of the method of the Christ-cure. Science
makes no concessions to persons or opinions.
One must abide in the morale of truth or he
cannot demonstrate the divine Principle. So long as
matter is the basis of practice, illness cannot be effica-
ciously treated by the metaphysical process. Truth does
the work, and you must both understand and abide by the
divine Principle of your demonstration.
This volume indispensable
456:25
A Christian Scientist requires my work SCIENCE AND
HEALTH for his textbook, and so do all his students and
patients. Why? First: Because it is the voice
of Truth to this age, and contains the full
statement of Christian Science, or the Science of healing
through Mind. Second: Because it was the first book
known, containing a thorough statement of Christian
Science. Hence it gave the first rules for demonstrating
457:1
this Science, and registered the revealed Truth uncon-
taminated by human hypotheses. Other works, which
have borrowed from this book without giving it credit,
have adulterated the Science. Third: Because this book
has done more for teacher and student, for healer and
patient, than has been accomplished by other books.
Purity of science
457:7
Since the divine light of Christian Science first dawned
upon the author, she has never used this newly discovered
power in any direction which she fears to have
fairly understood. Her prime object, since
entering this field of labor, has been to prevent suffering,
not to produce it. That we cannot scientifically both
cure and cause disease is self-evident. In the legend of
the shield, which led to a quarrel between two knights
because each of them could see but one face of it, both
sides were beautiful according to their degree; but to
mental malpractice, prolific of evil, there is no good as-
pect, either silvern or golden.
Backsliders and mistakes
457:19
Christian Science is not an exception to the general
rule, that there is no excellence without labor in a direct
line. One cannot scatter his fire, and at the
same time hit the mark. To pursue other
vocations and advance rapidly in the demonstration of
this Science, is not possible. Departing from Christian
Science, some learners commend diet and hygiene.
They even practise these, intending thereby to initiate
the cure which they mean to complete with Mind, as if
the non-intelligent could aid Mind! The Scientist's
demonstration rests on one Principle, and there must
and can be no opposite rule. Let this Principle be ap-
plied to the cure of disease without exploiting other
means.
Mental charlatanism
458:1
Mental quackery rests on the same platform as all
other quackery. The chief plank in this platform is the
doctrine that Science has two principles in
partnership, one good and the other evil, –
one spiritual, the other material, – and that these two
may be simultaneously at work on the sick. This
theory is supposed to favor practice from both a mental
and a material standpoint. Another plank in the plat-
form is this, that error will finally have the same effect
as truth.
Divinity ever ready
458:11
It is anything but scientifically Christian to think of
aiding the divine Principle of healing or of trying to sus-
tain the human body until the divine Mind
is ready to take the case. Divinity is always
ready. Semper paratus is Truth's motto. Having seen
so much suffering from quackery, the author desires to
keep it out of Christian Science. The two-edged sword
of Truth must turn in every direction to guard "the tree
of life."
The panoply of wisdom
458:20
Sin makes deadly thrusts at the Christian Scientist as
ritualism and creed are summoned to give place to higher
law, but Science will ameliorate mortal malice.
The Christianly scientific man reflects the
divine law, thus becoming a law unto himself. He does
violence to no man. Neither is he a false accuser. The
Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is hon-
est and consistent in following the leadings of divine
Mind. He must prove, through living as well as heal-
ing and teaching, that Christ's way is the only one
by which mortals are radically saved from sin and
sickness.
Advancement by sacrifice
458:32
Christianity causes men to turn naturally from matter
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to Spirit, as the flower turns from darkness to light.
Man then appropriates those things which "eye hath
not seen nor ear heard." Paul and John
had a clear apprehension that, as mortal man
achieves no worldly honors except by sacrifice,
so he must gain heavenly riches by forsaking all worldli-
ness. Then he will have nothing in common with the
worldling's affections, motives, and aims. Judge not the
future advancement of Christian Science by the steps
already taken, lest you yourself be condemned for fail-
ing to take the first step.
Dangerous knowledge
459:12
Any attempt to heal mortals with erring mortal mind,
instead of resting on the omnipotence of the divine
Mind, must prove abortive. Committing the
bare process of mental healing to frail mor-
tals, untaught and unrestrained by Christian Science,
is like putting a sharp knife into the hands of a blind
man or a raging maniac, and turning him loose in
the crowded streets of a city. Whether animated by
malice or ignorance, a false practitioner will work mis-
chief, and ignorance is more harmful than wilful wicked-
ness, when the latter is distrusted and thwarted in its
incipiency.
Certainty of results
459:24
To mortal sense Christian Science seems abstract, but
the process is simple and the results are sure if the Science
is understood. The tree must be good, which
produces good fruit. Guided by divine Truth
and not guesswork, the theologus (that is, the student –
the Christian and scientific expounder – of the divine
law) treats disease with more certain results than any
other healer on the globe. The Christian Scientist should
understand and adhere strictly to the rules of divine meta-
460:1
physics as laid down in this work, and rest his demonstra-
tion on this sure basis.
Ontology defined
460:3
Ontology is defined as "the science of the necessary
constituents and relations of all beings," and it under-
lies all metaphysical practice. Our system of
Mind-healing rests on the apprehension of the
nature and essence of all being, – on the divine Mind
and Love's essential qualities. Its pharmacy is moral,
and its medicine is intellectual and spiritual, though used
for physical healing. Yet this most fundamental part of
metaphysics is the one most difficult to understand and
demonstrate, for to the material thought all is material,
till such thought is rectified by Spirit.
Mischievous imagination
460:14
Sickness is neither imaginary nor unreal, – that is,
to the frightened, false sense of the patient. Sickness
is more than fancy; it is solid conviction. It
is therefore to be dealt with through right ap-
prehension of the truth of being. If Christian healing
is abused by mere smatterers in Science, it becomes a
tedious mischief-maker. Instead of scientifically effect-
ing a cure, it starts a petty crossfire over every cripple
and invalid, buffeting them with the superficial and cold
assertion, "Nothing ails you."
Author's early instructions
460:24
When the Science of Mind was a fresh revelation to
the author, she had to impart, while teaching its grand
facts, the hue of spiritual ideas from her own
spiritual condition, and she had to do this orally
through the meagre channel afforded by language and by
her manuscript circulated among the students. As for-
mer beliefs were gradually expelled from her thought, the
teaching became clearer, until finally the shadow of old
errors was no longer cast upon divine Science.
Proof by induction
460:33
I do not maintain that anyone can exist in the flesh
without food and raiment; but I do believe that the
real man is immortal and that he lives in
Spirit, not matter. Christian Science must
be accepted at this period by induction. We admit the
whole, because a part is proved and that part illustrates
and proves the entire Principle. Christian Science can
be taught only by those who are morally advanced and
spiritually endowed, for it is not superficial, nor is it
discerned from the standpoint of the human senses.
Only by the illumination of the spiritual sense, can
the light of understanding be thrown upon this Science,
because Science reverses the evidence before the material
senses and furnishes the eternal interpretation of God and
man.
461:16
If you believe that you are sick, should you say, "I am
sick"? No, but you should tell your belief sometimes,
if this be requisite to protect others. If you commit a
crime, should you acknowledge to yourself that you are
a criminal? Yes. Your responses should differ because
of the different effects they produce. Usually to admit
that you are sick, renders your case less curable, while
to recognize your sin, aids in destroying it. Both sin and
sickness are error, and Truth is their remedy. The truth
regarding error is, that error is not true, hence it is unreal.
To prove scientifically the error or unreality of sin, you
must first see the claim of sin, and then destroy it.
Whereas, to prove scientifically the error or unreality of
disease, you must mentally unsee the disease; then you
will not feel it, and it is destroyed.
Rapidity of assimilation
461:31
Systematic teaching and the student's spiritual growth
and experience in practice are requisite for a thorough
462:1
comprehension of Christian Science. Some individu-
als assimilate truth more readily than others, but any
student, who adheres to the divine rules
of Christian Science and imbibes the spirit
of Christ, can demonstrate Christian Science, cast out
error, heal the sick, and add continually to his store of
spiritual understanding, potency, enlightenment, and
success.
Divided loyalty
462:9
If the student goes away to practise Truth's teach-
ings only in part, dividing his interests between God and
mammon and substituting his own views for
Truth, he will inevitably reap the error he sows.
Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian
Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every state-
ment, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There
is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way
is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and
persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every
department of life.
Anatomy defined
462:20
Anatomy, when conceived of spiritually, is mental self‑
knowledge, and consists in the dissection of thoughts to
discover their quality, quantity, and origin.
Are thoughts divine or human? That is the
important question. This branch of study is indispen-
sable to the excision of error. The anatomy of Christian
Science teaches when and how to probe the self-in-
flicted wounds of selfishness, malice, envy, and hate. It
teaches the control of mad ambition. It unfolds the
hallowed influences of unselfishness, philanthropy, spir-
itual love. It urges the government of the body both
in health and in sickness. The Christian Scientist,
through understanding mental anatomy, discerns and
463:1
deals with the real cause of disease. The material physi-
cian gropes among phenomena, which fluctuate every in-
stant under influences not embraced in his diagnosis, and
so he may stumble and fall in the darkness.
Scientific obstetrics
463:5
Teacher and student should also be familiar with the
obstetrics taught by this Science. To attend properly
the birth of the new child, or divine idea,
you should so detach mortal thought from its
material conceptions, that the birth will be natural and
safe. Though gathering new energy, this idea cannot
injure its useful surroundings in the travail of spiritual
birth. A spiritual idea has not a single element of error,
and this truth removes properly whatever is offensive.
The new idea, conceived and born of Truth and Love, is
clad in white garments. Its beginning will be meek, its
growth sturdy, and its maturity undecaying. When
this new birth takes place, the Christian Science infant
is born of the Spirit, born of God, and can cause the
mother no more suffering. By this we know that Truth
is here and has fulfilled its perfect work.
Unhesitating decision
463:21
To decide quickly as to the proper treatment of error –
whether error is manifested in forms of sickness, sin,
or death – is the first step towards destroy-
ing error. Our Master treated error through
Mind. He never enjoined obedience to the laws of nature,
if by these are meant laws of matter, nor did he use drugs.
There is a law of God applicable to healing, and it is a
spiritual law instead of material. The sick are not healed
by inanimate matter or drugs, as they believe that they
are. Such seeming medical effect or action is that of so‑
called mortal mind.
Seclusion of the author
463:32
It has been said to the author, "The world is bene-
464:1
fited by you, but it feels your influence without seeing
you. Why do you not make yourself more widely
known?" Could her friends know how little
time the author has had, in which to make
herself outwardly known except through her laborious
publications, – and how much time and toil are still re-
quired to establish the stately operations of Christian
Science, – they would understand why she is so secluded.
Others could not take her place, even if willing so to do.
She therefore remains unseen at her post, seeking no self‑
aggrandizement but praying, watching, and working for
the redemption of mankind.
464:13
If from an injury or from any cause, a Christian Scien-
tist were seized with pain so violent that he could not
treat himself mentally, – and the Scientists had failed
to relieve him, – the sufferer could call a surgeon, who
would give him a hypodermic injection, then, when the
belief of pain was lulled, he could handle his own case
mentally. Thus it is that we "prove all things; [and]
hold fast that which is good."
The right motive and its reward
464:21
In founding a pathological system of Christianity, the
author has labored to expound divine Principle, and not
to exalt personality. The weapons of bigotry,
ignorance, envy, fall before an honest heart.
Adulterating Christian Science, makes it void.
Falsity has no foundation. "The hireling fleeth, because
he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep." Neither
dishonesty nor ignorance ever founded, nor can they over-
throw a scientific system of ethics.
Chapter XIV
Recapitulation
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon
line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. – ISAIAH.
465:1
THIS chapter is from the first edition of the author's
class-book, copyrighted in 1870. After much labor
and increased spiritual understanding, she revised that
treatise for this volume in 1875. Absolute Christian
Science pervades its statements, to elucidate scientific
metaphysics.
465:7
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
465:8
Question. – What is God?
Answer. – God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite
Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love.
465:11
Question. – Are these terms synonymous?
Answer. – They are. They refer to one absolute God.
They are also intended to express the nature, essence, and
wholeness of Deity. The attributes of God are justice,
mercy, wisdom, goodness, and so on.
465:16
Question. – Is there more than one God or Principle?
Answer. – There is not. Principle and its idea is one,
and this one is God, omnipotent, omniscient, and omni-
466:1
present Being, and His reflection is man and the universe.
Omni is adopted from the Latin adjective signifying all.
Hence God combines all-power or potency, all-science
or true knowledge, all-presence. The varied manifesta-
tions of Christian Science indicate Mind, never matter,
and have one Principle.
Real versus unreal
466:7
Question. – What are spirits and souls?
Answer. – To human belief, they are personalities
constituted of mind and matter, life and death, truth and
error, good and evil; but these contrasting
pairs of terms represent contraries, as Chris-
tian Science reveals, which neither dwell together nor
assimilate. Truth is immortal; error is mortal. Truth
is limitless; error is limited. Truth is intelligent; error
is non-intelligent. Moreover, Truth is real, and error is
unreal. This last statement contains the point you will
most reluctantly admit, although first and last it is the
most important to understand.
Mankind redeemed
466:19
The term souls or spirits is as improper as the term
gods. Soul or Spirit signifies Deity and nothing else.
There is no finite soul nor spirit. Soul or
Spirit means only one Mind, and cannot be
rendered in the plural. Heathen mythology and Jewish
theology have perpetuated the fallacy that intelligence,
soul, and life can be in matter; and idolatry and ritualism
are the outcome of all man-made beliefs. The Science
of Christianity comes with fan in hand to separate the
chaff from the wheat. Science will declare God aright,
and Christianity will demonstrate this declaration and
its divine Principle, making mankind better physically,
morally, and spiritually.
Two chief commands
467:1
Question. – What are the demands of the Science of
Soul?
Answer. – The first demand of this Science is, "Thou
shalt have no other gods before me." This me is Spirit.
Therefore the command means this: Thou shalt
have no intelligence, no life, no substance, no
truth, no love, but that which is spiritual. The second
is like unto it, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."
It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one
Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love.
Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact
becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brother-
hood of man will be established. Having no other gods,
turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide
him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, hav-
ing that Mind which was also in Christ.
Soul not confined in body
467:17
Science reveals Spirit, Soul, as not in the body, and
God as not in man but as reflected by man. The greater
cannot be in the lesser. The belief that the
greater can be in the lesser is an error that
works ill. This is a leading point in the Science of Soul,
that Principle is not in its idea. Spirit, Soul, is not
confined in man, and is never in matter. We reason im-
perfectly from effect to cause, when we conclude that
matter is the effect of Spirit; but a priori reasoning
shows material existence to be enigmatical. Spirit gives
the true mental idea. We cannot interpret Spirit, Mind,
through matter. Matter neither sees, hears, nor feels.
Sinlessness of Mind, Soul
467:29
Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind,
we begin with Mind, which must be under-
stood through the idea which expresses it and
cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we
468:1
arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own
unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human
illusions. If Soul sinned, it would be mortal, for sin is
mortality's self, because it kills itself. If Truth is im-
mortal, error must be mortal, because error is unlike
Truth. Because Soul is immortal, Soul cannot sin, for
sin is not the eternal verity of being.
468:8
Question. – What is the scientific statement of being?
Answer. – There is no life, truth, intelligence, nor sub-
stance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite
manifestation, for God is All-in-all. Spirit is immortal
Truth; matter is mortal error. Spirit is the real and
eternal; matter is the unreal and temporal. Spirit is
God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore
man is not material; he is spiritual.
Spiritual synonyms
468:16
Question. – What is substance?
Answer. – Substance is that which is eternal and inca-
pable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are
substance, as the Scriptures use this word in
Hebrews: "The substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not seen." Spirit, the synonym
of Mind, Soul, or God, is the only real substance. The
spiritual universe, including individual man, is a com-
pound idea, reflecting the divine substance of Spirit.
Eternity of Life
468:25
Question. – What is Life?
Answer. – Life is divine Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit.
Life is without beginning and without end.
Eternity, not time, expresses the thought of
Life, and time is no part of eternity. One ceases in
proportion as the other is recognized. Time is finite;
469:1
eternity is forever infinite. Life is neither in nor of mat-
ter. What is termed matter is unknown to Spirit, which
includes in itself all substance and is Life eternal. Mat-
ter is a human concept. Life is divine Mind. Life is not
limited. Death and finiteness are unknown to Life. If
Life ever had a beginning, it would also have an ending.
469:7
Question. – What is intelligence?
Answer. – Intelligence is omniscience, omnipresence,
and omnipotence. It is the primal and eternal quality
of infinite Mind, of the triune Principle, – Life, Truth,
and Love, – named God.
True sense of infinitude
469:12
Question. – What is Mind?
Answer. – Mind is God. The exterminator of error
is the great truth that God, good, is the only Mind, and
that the supposititious opposite of infinite Mind
– called devil or evil – is not Mind, is not
Truth, but error, without intelligence or reality. There
can be but one Mind, because there is but one God; and
if mortals claimed no other Mind and accepted no other,
sin would be unknown. We can have but one Mind, if
that one is infinite. We bury the sense of infinitude,
when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a
place in this infinity, for evil can have no place, where all
space is filled with God.
The sole governor
469:25
We lose the high signification of omnipotence, when
after admitting that God, or good, is omnipresent and
has all-power, we still believe there is another
power, named evil. This belief that there
is more than one mind is as pernicious to divine theology
as are ancient mythology and pagan idolatry. With
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