Part 61 (1/2)

Awaken the patient

If it becomes necessary to startle mortal mind to break its dream of suffering, vehemently tell your patient that 420:30 he must awake. Turn his gaze from the false evidence of the senses to the harmonious facts of Soul and immortal being. Tell him that he suffers 421:1 only as the insane suffer, from false beliefs. The only difference is, that insanity implies belief in a diseased 421:3 brain, while physical ailments (so-called) arise from the belief that other portions of the body are deranged. De- rangement, or _disarrangement_, is a word which conveys 421:6 the true definition of all human belief in ill-health, or dis- turbed harmony. Should you thus startle mortal mind in order to remove its beliefs, afterwards make known 421:9 to the patient your motive for this shock, showing him that it was to facilitate recovery.

How to treat a crisis

If a crisis occurs in your treatment, you must treat 421:12 the patient less for the disease and more for the mental disturbance or fermentation, and subdue the symptoms by removing the belief that this 421:15 chemicalization produces pain or disease. Insist vehe- mently on the great fact which covers the whole ground, that G.o.d, Spirit, is all, and that there is none beside 421:18 Him. There is _no disease_. When the supposed suffer- ing is gone from mortal mind, there can be no pain; and when the fear is destroyed, the inflammation will sub- 421:21 side. Calm the excitement sometimes induced by chemi- calization, which is the alterative effect produced by Truth upon error, and sometimes explain the symptoms 421:24 and their cause to the patient.

No perversion of Mind-science

It is no more Christianly scientific to see disease than it is to experience it. If you would destroy the sense 421:27 of disease, you should not build it up by wis.h.i.+ng to see the forms it a.s.sumes or by employing a single material application for 421:30 its relief. The perversion of Mind-science is like as- serting that the products of eight multiplied by five, and of seven by ten, are both forty, and that their combined 422:1 sum is fifty, and then calling the process mathematics.

Wiser than his persecutors, Jesus said: ”If I by Beelze- 422:3 bub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?”

Effect of this book

If the reader of this book observes a great stir through- 422:6 out his whole system, and certain moral and physical symptoms seem aggravated, these indications are favorable. Continue to read, and the book 422:9 will become the physician, allaying the tremor which Truth often brings to error when destroying it.

Disease neutralized

Patients, unfamiliar with the cause of this commotion 422:12 and ignorant that it is a favorable omen, may be alarmed.

If such be the case, explain to them the law of this action. As when an acid and alkali 422:15 meet and bring out a third quality, so mental and moral chemistry changes the material base of thought, giving more spirituality to consciousness and causing it to depend 422:18 less on material evidence. These changes which go on in mortal mind serve to reconstruct the body. Thus Christian Science, by the alchemy of Spirit, destroys sin 422:21 and death.

Bone-healing by surgery

Let us suppose two parallel cases of bone-disease, both similarly produced and attended by the same symptoms.

422:24 A surgeon is employed in one case, and a Christian Scientist in the other. The sur- geon, holding that matter forms its own conditions and 422:27 renders them fatal at certain points, entertains fears and doubts as to the ultimate outcome of the injury. Not holding the reins of government in his own hands, he 422:30 believes that something stronger than Mind - namely, matter - governs the case. His treatment is therefore tentative. This mental state invites defeat. The belief 423:1 that he has met his master in matter and may not be able to mend the bone, increases his fear; yet this belief 423:3 should not be communicated to the patient, either ver- bally or otherwise, for this fear greatly diminishes the tendency towards a favorable result. Remember that the 423:6 unexpressed belief oftentimes affects a sensitive patient more strongly than the expressed thought.

Scientific corrective

The Christian Scientist, understanding scientifically 423:9 that all is Mind, commences with mental causation, the truth of being, to destroy the error. This cor- rective is an alterative, reaching to every part 423:12 of the human system. According to Scripture, it searches ”the joints and marrow,” and it restores the harmony of man.

Coping with difficulties

423:15 The matter-physician deals with matter as both his foe and his remedy. He regards the ailment as weakened or strengthened according to the evidence which 423:18 matter presents. The metaphysician, making Mind his basis of operation irrespective of matter and regarding the truth and harmony of being as superior to 423:21 error and discord, has rendered himself strong, instead of weak, to cope with the case; and he proportionately strengthens his patient with the stimulus of courage and 423:24 conscious power. Both Science and consciousness are now at work in the economy of being according to the law of Mind, which ultimately a.s.serts its absolute supremacy.

Formation from thought

423:27 Ossification or any abnormal condition or derange- ment of the body is as directly the action of mortal mind as is dementia or insanity. Bones have 423:30 only the substance of thought which forms them. They are only phenomena of the mind of mor- tals. The so-called substance of bone is formed first 424:1 by the parent's mind, through self-division. Soon the child becomes a separate, individualized mortal mind, 424:3 which takes possession of itself and its own thoughts of bones.

Accidents unknown to G.o.d

Accidents are unknown to G.o.d, or immortal Mind, 424:6 and we must leave the mortal basis of belief and unite with the one Mind, in order to change the notion of chance to the proper sense 424:9 of G.o.d's unerring direction and thus bring out harmony.

Opposing mentality

Under divine Providence there can be no accidents, since there is no room for imperfection in perfection.

424:12 In medical practice objections would be raised if one doctor should administer a drug to counteract the work- ing of a remedy prescribed by another doctor.

424:15 It is equally important in metaphysical prac- tice that the _minds_ which surround your patient should not act against your influence by continually expressing 424:18 such opinions as may alarm or discourage, - either by giving antagonistic advice or through unspoken thoughts resting on your patient. While it is certain that the 424:21 divine Mind can remove any obstacle, still you need the ear of your auditor. It is not more difficult to make your- self heard mentally while others are thinking about your 424:24 patients or conversing with them, if you understand Christian Science - the oneness and the allness of divine Love; but it is well to be alone with G.o.d and the sick 424:27 when treating disease.