Part 43 (1/2)
takes in new views, in which nature becomes Spirit; and [1]
Spirit is G.o.d, and G.o.d is good. Science unfolds the fact that Deity was forever Mind, Spirit; that matter never produced Mind, and _vice versa_.
The visible universe declares the invisible only by re- [5]
version, as error declares Truth. The testimony of mate- rial sense in relation to existence is false; for matter can neither see, hear, nor feel, and mortal mind must change all its conceptions of life, substance, and intelligence, before it can reach the immortality of Mind and its ideas. [10]
It is erroneous to accept the evidence of the material senses whence to reason out G.o.d, when it is conceded that the five personal senses can take no cognizance of Spirit or of its phenomena. False realistic views sap the Science of Principle and idea; they make Deity unreal [15]
and inconceivable, either as mind or matter; but Truth comes to the rescue of reason and immortality, and unfolds the real nature of G.o.d and the universe to the spiri- ual sense, which beareth witness of things spiritual, and not material. [20]
To begin with, the notion of Spirit as cause and end, with matter as its effect, is more ridiculous than the ”grin without a cat;” for a grin expresses the nature of a cat, and this nature may linger in memory: but matter does not express the nature of Spirit, and matter's graven [25]
grins are neither eliminated nor retained by Spirit. What can ill.u.s.trate Dr. --'s views better than Pat's echo, when he said ”How do you do?” and echo answered, ”Pretty well, I thank you!”
Dr. -- says: ”The recognition of teleology in nature [30]
is necessarily the recognition of purely spiritual personality in G.o.d.”
[Page 219.]
According to lexicography, teleology is the science of [1]
the final cause of things; and divine Science (and all Science is divine) neither reveals G.o.d in matter, cause in effect, nor teaches that nature and her laws are the _material_ universe, or that the personality of infinite Spirit [5]
is finite or material. Jesus said, ”Ye do err, not know- ing the Scriptures, nor the power of G.o.d.” Now, what saith the Scripture? ”G.o.d is a Spirit: and they that wors.h.i.+p Him must wors.h.i.+p Him in spirit and in truth.” [10]
Mental Practice
It is admitted that mortals think wickedly and act wickedly: it is beginning to be seen by thinkers, that mortals think also after a sickly fas.h.i.+on. In common parlance, one person feels sick, another feels wicked. A [15]
third person knows that if he would remove this feeling in either case, in the one he must change his patient's consciousness of dis-ease and suffering to a consciousness of ease and loss of suffering; while in the other he must change the patient's sense of sinning at ease to a sense of [20]
discomfort in sin and peace in goodness.
This is Christian Science: that mortal mind makes sick, and immortal Mind makes well; that mortal mind makes sinners, while immortal Mind makes saints; that a state of health is but a state of consciousness made mani- [25]
fest on the body, and _vice versa_; that while one person feels wickedly and acts wickedly, another knows that if he can change this evil sense and consciousness to a good sense, or conscious goodness, the fruits of goodness will follow, and he has reformed the sinner. [30]
[Page 220.]
Now, demonstrate this rule, which obtains in every [1]
line of mental healing, and you will find that a good rule works one way, and a false rule the opposite way.
Let us suppose that there is a sick person whom an- other would heal mentally. The healer begins by mental [5]
argument. He mentally says, ”You are well, and you know it;” and he supports this silent mental force by audible explanation, attestation, and precedent. His mental and oral arguments aim to refute the sick man's thoughts, words, and actions, in certain directions, and [10]
turn them into channels of Truth. He persists in this course until the patient's mind yields, and the harmonious thought has the full control over this mind on the point at issue. The end is attained, and the patient says and feels, ”I am well, and I know it.” [15]
This mental pract.i.tioner has changed his patient's consciousness from sickness to health. The patient's mental state is now the diametrical opposite of what it was when the mental pract.i.tioner undertook to transform it, and he is improved morally and physically. [20]
That this mental method has power and bears fruit, is patent both to the conscientious Christian Scientist and the observer. Both should understand with equal clear- ness, that if this mental process and power be reversed, and people believe that a man is sick and knows it, and [25]
speak of him as being sick, put it into the minds of others that he is sick, publish it in the newspapers that he is failing, and persist in this action of mind over mind, it follows that he will believe that he is sick,-and Jesus said it would be according to the woman's belief; but if [30]
with the certainty of Science he knows that an error of belief has not the power of Truth, and cannot, does
[Page 221.]
not, produce the slightest effect, it has no power over [1]