Chapter 10
that G.o.d made all that was made, is again Scriptural; [1]
therefore your answer is, that error is an illusion of mortals; that G.o.d is not its author, and it cannot be real.
_Does __"__Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures__"_ [5]
_explain the entire method of metaphysical healing, or is_ _there a secret back of what is contained in that book, as_ _some say?_
"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures"
is a complete textbook of Christian Science; and its [10]
metaphysical method of healing is as lucid in presenta- tion as can be possible, under the necessity to express the metaphysical in physical terms. There is absolutely no additional secret outside of its teachings, or that gives one the power to heal; but it is essential that the student [15]
gain the spiritual understanding of the contents of this book, in order to heal.
_Do you believe in change of heart?_
We do believe, and understand-which is more- that there must be a change from human affections, de- [20]
sires, and aims, to the divine standard, "Be ye therefore perfect;" also, that there must be a change from the be- lief that the heart is matter and sustains life, to the understanding that G.o.d is our Life, that we exist in Mind, live thereby, and have being. This change of [25]
heart would deliver man from heart-disease, and ad- vance Christianity a hundredfold. The human affections need to be changed from self to benevolence and love for G.o.d and man; changed to having but _one_ G.o.d and loving Him supremely, and helping our brother man. [30]
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This change of heart is essential to Christianity, and [1]
will have its effect physically as well as spiritually, healing disease. Burnt offerings and drugs, G.o.d does not require.
_Is a belief of nervousness, accompanied by great mental_ [5]
_depression, mesmerism?_
All mesmerism is of one of three kinds; namely, the ignorant, the fraudulent, or the malicious workings of error or mortal mind. We have not the particulars of the case to which you may refer, and for this reason can- [10]
not answer your question professionally.
_How can I govern a child metaphysically? Doesn't the_ _use of the rod teach him life in matter?_
The use of the rod is virtually a declaration to the child's mind that sensation belongs to matter. Motives [15]
govern acts, and Mind governs man. If you make clear to the child's thought the right motives for action, and cause him to love them, they will lead him aright: if you educate him to love G.o.d, good, and obey the Golden Rule, he will love and obey you without your having to [20]
resort to corporeal punishment.
""When from the lips of Truth one mighty breath Shall, like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze The whole dark pile of human mockeries; Then shall the reign of Mind commence on earth, [25]
And starting fresh, as from a second birth, Man in the suns.h.i.+ne of the world's new spring, Shall walk transparent like some holy thing."
_Are both prayer
The apostle James said, "Ye ask, and receive not, [30]
because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your
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l.u.s.ts." This text may refer to such as seek the material [1]
to aid the spiritual, and take drugs to support G.o.d's power to heal them. It is difficult to say how much one can do for himself, whose faith is divided be- tween catnip and Christ; but not so difficult to know [5]
that if he were to serve one master, he could do vastly more. Whosoever understands the power of Spirit, has no doubt of G.o.d's power,-even the might of Truth,- to heal, through divine Science, beyond all human means and methods. [10]
_What do you think of marriage?_
That it is often convenient, sometimes pleasant, and occasionally a love affair. Marriage is susceptible of many definitions. It sometimes presents the most wretched condition of human existence. To be normal, [15]
it must be a union of the affections that tends to lift mortals higher.
_If this life is a dream not dispelled, but only changed,_ _by death,-if one gets tired of it, why not commit_ _suicide?_ [20]
Man's existence is a problem to be wrought in divine Science. What progress would a student of science make, if, when tired of mathematics or failing to dem- onstrate one rule readily, he should attempt to work out a rule farther on and more difficult-and this, [25]
because the first rule was not easily demonstrated? In that case he would be obliged to turn back and work out the previous example, before solving the advanced problem. Mortals have the sum of being to work out, and up, to its spiritual standpoint. They must work [30]
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out of this dream or false claim of sensation and life [1]
in matter, and up to the spiritual realities of existence, before this false claim can be wholly dispelled. Com- mitting suicide to dodge the question is not working it out. The error of supposed life and intelligence in [5]
matter, is dissolved only as we master error with Truth.
Not through sin or suicide, but by _overcoming_ tempta- tion and sin, shall we escape the weariness and wicked- ness of mortal existence, and gain heaven, the harmony of being. [10]
_Do you sometimes find it advisable to use medicine to_ _a.s.sist in producing a cure, when it is difficult to start the_ _patient's recovery?_
You only weaken your power to heal through Mind, by any compromise with matter; which is virtually ac- [15]
knowledging that under difficulties the former is not equal to the latter. He that resorts to physics, seeks what is below instead of above the standard of metaphysics; showing his ignorance of the meaning of the term and of Christian Science. [20]
_If Christian Science is the same as Jesus taught, why is_ _it not more simple, so that all can readily understand it?_
The teachings of Jesus were simple; and yet he found it difficult to make the rulers understand, because of their great lack of spirituality. Christian Science is [25]
simple, and readily understood by the children; only the thought educated away from it finds it abstract or difficult to perceive. Its seeming abstraction is the mystery of G.o.dliness; and G.o.dliness is simple to the G.o.dly; but to the unspiritual, the unG.o.dly, it is dark [30]
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and difficult. The carnal mind cannot discern spiritual [1]
things.
_Has Mrs. Eddy lost her power to heal?_
Has the sun forgotten to s.h.i.+ne, and the planets to revolve around it? Who is it that discovered, dem- [5]
onstrated, and teaches Christian Science? That one, whoever it be, does understand something of what can- not be lost. Thousands in the field of metaphysical healing, whose lives are worthy testimonials, are her students, and they bear witness to this fact. Instead [10]
of losing her power to heal, she is demonstrating the power of Christian Science over all obstacles that envy and malice would fling in her path. The reading of her book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"
is curing hundreds at this very time; and the sick, un- [15]
asked, are testifying thereto.
_Must I study your Science in order to keep well all my_ _life? I was healed of a chronic trouble after one month's_ _treatment by one of your students._
When once you are healed by Science, there is no rea- [20]
son why you should be liable to a return of the disease that you were healed of. But not to be subject again to any disease whatsoever, would require an understanding of the Science by which you were healed.
_Because none of your students haw been able to perform_ [25]
_as great miracles in healing as Jesus and his disciples did,_ _does it not suggest the possibility that they do not heal on_ _the same basis?_
You would not ask the pupil in simple equations to solve a problem involving logarithms; and then, because [30]