Chapter 17
and tends to blight the fruits of my students. A faith- [1]
ful student may even sometimes feel the need of physical help, and occasionally receive it from others; but the less this is required, the better it is for that student. [5]
_Please give us, through your Journal, the name of_ _the author of that genuine critique in the September_ _number, __"__What Quibus Thinks.__"_
I am pleased to inform this inquirer, that the author of the article in question is a Boston gentleman whose [10]
thought is appreciated by many liberals. Patience, ob- servation, intellectual culture, reading, writing, exten- sive travel, and twenty years in the pulpit, have equipped him as a critic who knows whereof he speaks. His allu- sion to Christian Science in the following paragraph, [15]
glows in the shadow of darkling criticism like a mid- night sun. Its manly honesty follows like a benediction after prayer, and closes the task of talking to deaf ears and dull debaters.
"We have always insisted that this Science is natural, [20]
spiritually natural; that Jesus was the highest type of real nature; that Christian healing is supernatural, or extra-natural, only to those who do not enter into its sublimity or understand its modes-as imported ice was miraculous to the equatorial African, who had never [25]
seen water freeze."
_Is it right for a Scientist to treat with a doctor?_
This depends upon what kind of a doctor it is. Mind- healing, and healing with drugs, are opposite modes of medicine. As a rule, drop one of these doctors when you [30]
[Page 89.]
employ the other. The Scripture saith, "No man can [1]
serve two masters;" and, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation."
_If Scientists are called upon to care for a member of_ _the family, or a friend in sickness, who is employing a_ [5]
_regular physician, would it be right to treat this patient_ _at all; and ought the patient to follow the doctor's_ _directions?_
When patients are under material medical treatment, it is advisable in most cases that Scientists do not treat [10]
them, or interfere with _materia medica_. If the patient is in peril, and you save him or alleviate his sufferings, although the medical attendant and friends have no faith in your method, it is humane, and not unchristian, to do him all the good you can; but your good will gen- [15]
erally "be evil spoken of." The hazard of casting "pearls before swine" caused our Master to refuse help to some who sought his aid; and he left this precaution for others.
_If mortal man is unreal, how can he be saved, and why_ [20]
_does he need to be saved? I ask for information, not for_ _controversy, for I am a seeker after Truth._
You will find the proper answer to this question in my published works. Man is immortal. Mortal man is a false concept that is not spared or prolonged by being [25]
saved from itself, from whatever is false. This salva- tion means: saved from error, or error overcome. Im- mortal man, in G.o.d's likeness, is safe in divine Science.
Mortal man is saved on this divine Principle, if he
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nize his Saviour. He must know that G.o.d is omnipo- [1]
tent; hence, that sin is impotent. He must know that the power of sin is the pleasure in sin. Take away this pleasure, and you remove all reality from its power. Jesus demonstrated sin and death to be powerless. This [5]
practical Truth saves from sin, and will save all who understand it.
_Is it wrong for a wife to have a husband treated for_ _sin, when she knows he is sinning, or for drinking and_ _smoking?_ [10]
It is always right to act rightly; but sometimes, under circ.u.mstances exceptional, it is inexpedient to attack evil. This rule is forever golden: "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Do you desire to be freed from sin? Then help others to be free; [15]
but in your measures, obey the Scriptures, "Be ye wise as serpents." Break the yoke of bondage in every wise way. First, be sure that your means for doing good are equal to your motives; then judge them by their fruits. [20]
_If not ordained, shall the pastor of the Church of_ _Christ, Scientist, administer the communion,-and_ _shall members of a church not organized receive the_ _communion?_
Our great Master administered to his disciples the [25]
Pa.s.sover, or last supper, without this prerogative being conferred by a visible organization and ordained priest- hood. His spiritually prepared breakfast, after his resurrection, and after his disciples had left their nets to follow him, is the spiritual communion which Chris- [30]
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tian Scientists celebrate in commemoration of the Christ. [1]
This ordinance is significant as a type of the true wors.h.i.+p, and it should be observed at present in our churches.
It is not indispensable to organize materially Christ's church. It is not absolutely necessary to ordain pas- [5]
tors and to dedicate churches; but if this be done, let it be in concession to the period, and not as a per- petual or indispensable ceremonial of the church. If our church is organized, it is to meet the demand, "Suffer it to be so now." The real Christian compact [10]
is love for one another. This bond is wholly spiritual and inviolate.
It is imperative, at all times and under every cir- c.u.mstance, to perpetuate no ceremonials except as types of these mental conditions,-remembrance and [15]
love; a real affection for Jesus' character and example.
Be it remembered, that all types employed in the ser- vice of Christian Science should represent the most spir- itual forms of thought and wors.h.i.+p that can be made visible. [20]
_Should not the teacher of Christian Science have our_ _textbook, __"__Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,__"_ _in his schoolroom and teach from it?_
I never dreamed, until informed thereof, that a loyal student did not take his textbook with him into the cla.s.s- [25]
room, ask questions from it, answer them according to it, and, as occasion required, read from the book as au- thority for what he taught. I supposed that students had followed my example, and that of other teachers, sufficiently to do this, and also to require their pupils to [30]
study the lessons before recitations.
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To omit these important points is anomalous, con- [1]
sidering the necessity for understanding Science, and the present liability of deviating from Christian Science.
Centuries will intervene before the statement of the inex- haustible topics of that book become sufficiently under- [5]
stood to be absolutely demonstrated. The teacher of Christian Science needs continually to study this textbook.
His work is to replenish thought, and to spiritualize human life, from this open fount of Truth and Love.
He who sees most clearly and enlightens other minds [10]
most readily, keeps his own lamp trimmed and burning.
He will take the textbook of Christian Science into his cla.s.s, repeat the questions in the chapter on Recapitula- tion, and his students will answer them from the same source. Throughout his entire explanations, the teacher [15]
should strictly adhere to the questions and answers con- tained in that chapter of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." It is important to point out the lesson to the cla.s.s, and to require the students thor- oughly to study it before the recitations; for this spirit- [20]
ualizes their thoughts. When closing his cla.s.s, the teacher should require each member to own a copy of the above-named book and to continue the study of this textbook.
The opinions of men cannot be subst.i.tuted for G.o.d's [25]
revelation. It must not be forgotten that in times past, arrogant ignorance and pride, in attempting to steady the ark of Truth, have dimmed the power and glory of the Scriptures, to which this Christian Science textbook is the Key. [30]
That teacher does most for his students who most divests himself of pride and self, spiritualizes his own
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thought, and by reason thereof is able to empty his stu- [1]
dents' minds, that they may be filled with Truth.
Beloved students, _so_ teach that posterity shall call you blessed, and the heart of history shall be made glad! [5]
_Can fear or sin bring back old beliefs of disease that have_ _been healed by Christian Science?_