Science and Health With Key to The Scriptures

M >> Mary Baker Eddy >> Science and Health With Key to The Scriptures

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Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into
the practice of Christian Science, in which truth cannot
442:18 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
442:21 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-
442:24 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
442:27 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
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-
sulted by her followers as to the propriety, advan-
443:3 tage, and consistency of systematic medical
study, she tries to show them that under ordi-
nary circumstances a resort to faith in corporeal means
443:6 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
443:9 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
443:12 should be the Master's counsel, "Judge not, that ye be
not judged."

Failure's lessons

If patients fail to experience the healing power of
443:15 Christian Science, and think they can be benefited by
certain ordinary physical methods of medical
treatment, then the Mind-physician should
443:18 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
443:21 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
very failures may open their blind eyes. In some way,
444:3 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
444:6 the dictum of Scripture.

Refuge and strength

If Christian Scientists ever fail to receive aid from
other Scientists, - their brethren upon whom they may
444:9 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
444:12 and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Charity to those opposed

Students are advised by the author to be charitable
and kind, not only towards differing forms of religion
444:15 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,
444:18 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."
444:21 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
444:24 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-
444:27 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
444:30 sense, are discordant and ofttimes false brethren.

Conforming to explicit rules

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.
Also the teacher must thoroughly fit his students to defend
445:3 themselves against sin, and to guard against the
attacks of the would-be /mental assassin/, who
attempts to kill morally and physically. No
445:6 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-
445:9 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
445:12 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
445:15 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
445:18 thought the omnipresence and omnipotence of God.

Divine energy

Christian Science silences human will, quiets fear with
Truth and Love, and illustrates the unlabored motion
445:21 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
445:24 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-
criminately, thus disregarding the morals of the student
and caring only for the fees. Recalling Jeffer-
445:30 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-
haps communicating his own bad morals, and in this way
446:3 dealing pitilessly with a community unprepared for self-
defence.

A thorough perusal of the author's publications heals
446:6 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.
446:9 Perseverance in the perusal of the book has generally
completely healed such cases.

Exclusion of malpractice

Whoever practises the Science the author teaches,
446:12 through which Mind pours light and healing upon this
generation, can practise on no one from sin-
ister or malicious motives without destroying
446:15 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-
446:18 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
446:21 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-
ness. Not human platitudes, but divine beatitudes, re-
flect the spiritual light and might which heal
446:27 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
446:30 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
man's individual right of self-government. We have no
447:3 authority in Christian Science and no moral
right to attempt to influence the thoughts of
others, except it be to benefit them. In men-
447:6 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
447:9 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-
ever conceal error; evil will in time disclose and pun-
ish itself. The recuperative action of the
447:15 system, when mentally sustained by Truth,
goes on naturally. When sin or sickness -
the reverse of harmony - seems true to material sense,
447:18 impart without frightening or discouraging the pa-
tient the truth and spiritual understanding, which de-
stroy disease. Expose and denounce the claims of
447:21 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
447:24 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
447:27 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
say, as a subterfuge, that evil is unreal, but to know it,
he must demonstrate his statement. To assume that
448:1 there are no claims of evil and yet to indulge them, is
a moral offence. Blindness and self-righteousness cling
448:3 fast to iniquity. When the Publican's wail
went out to the great heart of Love, it won his
humble desire. Evil which obtains in the bodily senses,
448:6 but which the heart condemns, has no foundation; but if
evil is uncondemned, it is undenied and nurtured. Under
such circumstances, to say that there is no evil, is an evil
448:9 in itself. When needed tell the truth concerning the lie.
Evasion of Truth cripples integrity, and casts thee down
from the pinnacle.

Truth's grand results

448:12 Christian Science rises above the evidence of the cor-
poreal senses; but if you have not risen above sin your-
self, do not congratulate yourself upon your
448:15 blindness to evil or upon the good you know
and /do/ not. A dishonest position is far from Christianly
scientific. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper:
448:18 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy." Try to leave on every student's mind the strong
impress of divine Science, a high sense of the moral and
448:21 spiritual qualifications requisite for healing, well knowing
it to be impossible for error, evil, and hate to accomplish
the grand results of Truth and Love. The reception or
448:24 pursuit of instructions opposite to absolute Christian
Science must always hinder scientific demonstration.

Adherence to righteousness

If the student adheres strictly to the teachings of Chris-
448:27 tian Science and ventures not to break its rules, he can-
not fail of success in healing. It is Christian
Science to do right, and nothing short of right-
448:30 doing has any claim to the name. To talk the right and
live the wrong is foolish deceit, doing one's self the most
harm. Fettered by sin yourself, it is difficult to free
449:1 another from the fetters of disease. With your own wrists
manacled, it is hard to break another's chains. A little
449:3 leaven causes the whole mass to ferment. A grain of
Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnip-
otent is Truth, but more of Christian Science must be
449:6 gained in order to continue in well doing.

Right adjusts the balance

The wrong done another reacts most heavily against
one's self. Right adjusts the balance sooner or later.
449:9 Think it "easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle," than for you to benefit
yourself by injuring others. Man's moral mercury, ris-
449:12 ing or falling, registers his healing ability and fitness to
teach. You should practise well what you know, and
you will then advance in proportion to your honesty
449:15 and fidelity, - qualities which insure success in this
Science; but it requires a higher understanding to teach
this subject properly and correctly than it does to heal
449:18 the most difficult case.

Inoculation of thought

The baneful effect of evil associates is less seen than
felt. The inoculation of evil human thoughts ought to
449:21 be understood and guarded against. The
first impression, made on a mind which is
attracted or repelled according to personal merit or de-
449:24 merit, is a good detective of individual character. Cer-
tain minds meet only to separate through simultaneous
repulsion. They are enemies without the preliminary
449:27 offence. The impure are at peace with the impure.
Only virtue is a rebuke to vice. A proper teacher of Chris-
tian Science improves the health and the morals of his
449:30 student if the student practises what he is taught, and
unless this result follows, the teacher is a Scientist only
in name.

Three classes of neophytes

450:1 There is a large class of thinkers whose bigotry and
conceit twist every fact to suit themselves. Their creed
450:3 teaches belief in a mysterious, supernatural
God, and in a natural, all-powerful devil. An-
other class, still more unfortunate, are so depraved that
450:6 they appear to be innocent. They utter a falsehood,
while looking you blandly in the face, and they never
fail to stab their benefactor in the back. A third class
450:9 of thinkers build with solid masonry. They are sincere,
generous, noble, and are therefore open to the approach
and recognition of Truth. To teach Christian Science
450:12 to such as these is no task. They do not incline long-
ingly to error, whine over the demands of Truth, nor
play the traitor for place and power.

Touchstone of Science

450:15 Some people yield slowly to the touch of Truth. Few
yield without a struggle, and many are reluctant to ac-
knowledge that they have yielded; but un-
450:18 less this admission is made, evil will boast
itself above good. The Christian Scientist has enlisted
to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome
450:21 them by understanding their nothingness and the allness
of God, or good. Sickness to him is no less a temptation
than is sin, and he heals them both by understanding
450:24 God's power over them. The Christian Scientist knows
that they are errors of belief, which Truth can and will
destroy.

False claims annihilated

450:27 Who, that has felt the perilous beliefs in life, substance,
and intelligence separated from God, can say that there
is no error of belief? Knowing the claim of
450:30 animal magnetism, that all evil combines in
the belief of life, substance, and intelligence in matter,
electricity, animal nature, and organic life, who will deny
451:1 that these are the errors which Truth must and will an-
nihilate? Christian Scientists must live under the con-
451:3 stant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from
the material world and be separate. They must re-
nounce aggression, oppression and the pride of power.
451:6 Christianity, with the crown of Love upon her brow,
must be their queen of life.

Treasure in heaven

Students of Christian Science, who start with its letter
451:9 and think to succeed without the spirit, will either make
shipwreck of their faith or be turned sadly
awry. They must not only seek, but strive,
451:12 to enter the narrow path of Life, for "wide is the gate,
and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat." Man walks in the
451:15 direction towards which he looks, and where his treasure
is, there will his heart be also. If our hopes and affec-
tions are spiritual, they come from above, not from be-
451:18 neath, and they bear as of old the fruits of the Spirit.

Obligations of teachers

Every Christian Scientist, every conscientious teacher
of the Science of Mind-healing, knows that human will
451:21 is not Christian Science, and he must recog-
nize this in order to defend himself from the
influence of human will. He feels morally obligated to
451:24 open the eyes of his students that they may perceive the
nature and methods of error of every sort, especially any
subtle degree of evil, deceived and deceiving. All mental
451:27 malpractice arises from ignorance or malice aforethought.
It is the injurious action of one mortal mind controlling
another from wrong motives, and it is practised either
451:30 with a mistaken or a wicked purpose.

Indispensable defence

Show your student that mental malpractice tends to
blast moral sense, health, and the human life. Instruct
452:1 him how to bar the door of his thought against this
seeming power, - a task not difficult, when one under-
452:3 stands that evil has in reality no power.
Incorrect reasoning leads to practical error.
The wrong thought should be arrested before it has a
452:6 chance to manifest itself.

Egotistic darkness

Walking in the light, we are accustomed to the light
and require it; we cannot see in darkness. But eyes ac-
452:9 customed to darkness are pained by the light.
When outgrowing the old, you should not fear
to put on the new. Your advancing course may pro-
452:12 voke envy, but it will also attract respect. When error
confronts you, withhold not the rebuke or the explana-
tion which destroys error. Never breathe an immoral
452:15 atmosphere, unless in the attempt to purify it. Better is
the frugal intellectual repast with contentment and virtue,
than the luxury of learning with egotism and vice.

Unwarranted expectations

452:18 Right is radical. The teacher must know the truth
himself. He must live it and love it, or he cannot impart
it to others. We soil our garments with con-
452:21 servatism, and afterwards we must wash them
clean. When the spiritual sense of Truth unfolds its
harmonies, you take no risks in the policy of error. Ex-
452:24 pect to heal simply by repeating the author's words, by
right talking and wrong acting, and you will be disap-
pointed. Such a practice does not demonstrate the
452:27 Science by which divine Mind heals the sick.

Reliable authority

Acting from sinful motives destroys your power of
healing from the right motive. On the other hand, if
452:30 you had the inclination or power to practise
wrongly and then should adopt Christian
Science, the wrong power would be destroyed. You do
453:1 not deny the mathematician's right to distinguish the cor-
rect from the incorrect among the examples on the black-
453:3 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-
453:9 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
453:12 have never witnessed so decided effects from the use of
material remedies as from the use of spiritual.

Knowledge and honesty

Teach your student that he must know himself be-
453:15 fore he can know others and minister to human needs.
Honesty is spiritual power. Dishonesty is
human weakness, which forfeits divine help.
453:18 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
453:21 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
453:27 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
453:30 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
454:1 animal magnetism or hypnotism. It need not be added
that the use of tobacco or intoxicating drinks is not in
454:3 harmony with Christian Science.

Impotence of hate

Teach your students the omnipotence of Truth, which
illustrates the impotence of error. The understanding,
454:6 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
454:9 "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,
454:12 is the doctrine of absolute Christian Science, and this is
the great truth which strips all disguise from error.

Love the incentive

He, who understands in sufficient degree the Princi-
454:15 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
454:18 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
454:21 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.
454:24 Patience must "have her perfect work."

Continuity of interest

Do not dismiss students at the close of a class term,
feeling that you have no more to do for them. Let your
454:27 loving care and counsel support all their feeble
footsteps, until your students tread firmly in
the straight and narrow way. The superiority of spir-
454:30 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
455:1 thought into accord with the spirit of Truth and Love,
which heals the sick and the sinner.

Weakness and guilt