Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 7

Why do we read the Bible, and then go to church to [20]

hear it expounded? Only because both are important.

Why do we read moral science, and then study it at college?

You are benefited by reading Science and Health, but it is greatly to your advantage to be taught its Science [25]

by the author of that work, who explains it in detail.

_What is immortal Mind?_

In reply, we refer you to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,"(2) Vol. I. page 14: "That which

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is erring, sinful, sick, and dying, termed material or [1]

mortal man, is neither G.o.d's man nor Mind; but to be understood, we shall cla.s.sify evil and error as mortal mind, in contradistinction to good and Truth, or the Mind which is immortal." [5]

_Do animals and beasts have a mind?_

Beasts, as well as men, express Mind as their origin; but they manifest less of Mind. The first and only cause is the eternal Mind, which is G.o.d, and there is but one G.o.d. The ferocious mind seen in the beast is [10]

mortal mind, which is harmful and proceeds not from G.o.d; for His beast is the lion that lieth down with the lamb. Appet.i.tes, pa.s.sions, anger, revenge, subtlety, are the animal qualities of sinning mortals; and the beasts that have these propensities express the lower [15]

qualities of the so-called animal man; in other words, the nature and quality of mortal mind,-not immortal Mind.

_What is the distinction between mortal mind and immortal_ _Mind?_ [20]

Mortal mind includes all evil, disease, and death; also, all beliefs relative to the so-called material laws, and all material objects, and the law of sin and death.

The Scripture says, "The carnal mind [in other words, mortal mind] is enmity against G.o.d; for it is not sub- [25]

ject to the law of G.o.d, neither indeed can be." Mortal mind is an illusion; as much in our waking moments as in the dreams of sleep. The belief that intelligence, Truth, and Love, are in matter and separate from G.o.d, is an error; for there is no intelligent evil, and no power [30]

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besides G.o.d, good. G.o.d would not be omnipotent if [1]

there were in reality another mind creating or governing man or the universe.

Immortal Mind is G.o.d; and this Mind is made manifest in all thoughts and desires that draw man- [5]

kind toward purity, health, holiness, and the spiritual facts of being.

Jesus recognized this relation so clearly that he said, "I and my Father are one." In proportion as we oppose the belief in material sense, in sickness, sin, and death, [10]

and recognize ourselves under the control of G.o.d, spiritual and immortal Mind, shall we go on to leave the animal for the spiritual, and learn the meaning of those words of Jesus, "Go ye into all the world ... heal the sick." [15]

_Can your Science cure intemperance?_

Christian Science lays the axe at the root of the tree.

Its antidote for all ills is G.o.d, the perfect Mind, which corrects mortal thought, whence cometh all evil. G.o.d can and does destroy the thought that leads to moral [20]

or physical death. Intemperance, impurity, sin of every sort, is destroyed by Truth. The appet.i.te for alcohol yields to Science as directly and surely as do sickness and sin.

_Does Mrs. Eddy take patients?_ [25]

She now does not. Her time is wholly devoted to in- struction, leaving to her students the work of healing; which, at this hour, is in reality the least difficult of the labor that Christian Science demands.

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_Why do you charge for teaching Christian Science, when_ [1]

_all the good we can do must be done freely?_

When teaching imparts the ability to gain and main- tain health, to heal and elevate man in every line of life,-as this teaching certainly does,-is it un- [5]

reasonable to expect in return something to support one's self and a Cause? If so, our whole system of education, secular and religious, is at fault, and the instructors and philanthropists in our land should ex- pect no compensation. "If we have sown unto you [10]

spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?"

_How happened you to establish a college to instruct in_ _metaphysics, when other inst.i.tutions find little interest in_ _such a dry and abstract subject?_ [15]

Metaphysics, as taught by me at the Ma.s.sachusetts Metaphysical College, is far from dry and abstract. It is a Science that has the animus of Truth. Its practical application to benefit the race, heal the sick, enlighten and reform the sinner, makes divine metaphysics need- [20]

ful, indispensable. Teaching metaphysics at other col- leges means, mainly, elaborating a man-made theory, or some speculative view too vapory and hypothetical for questions of practical import.

_Is it necessary to study your Science in order to be healed_ [25]

_by it and keep well?_

It is not necessary to make each patient a student in order to cure his present disease, if this is what you mean. Were it so, the Science would be of less

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practical value. Many who apply for help are not [1]

prepared to take a course of instruction in Christian Science.

To avoid being _subject_ to disease, would require the understanding of how you are healed. In 1885, this [5]

knowledge can be obtained in its genuineness at the Ma.s.sachusetts Metaphysical College. There are abroad at this early date some grossly incorrect and false teachers of what they term Christian Science; of such beware. They have risen up in a day to make this claim; [10]

whereas the Founder of genuine Christian Science has been all her years in giving it birth.

_Can you take care of yourself?_

G.o.d giveth to every one this _puissance_; and I have faith in His promise, "Lo, I am with you alway"- [15]

_all the way_. Unlike the M. D.'s, Christian Scientists are not afraid to take their own medicine, for this medicine is divine Mind; and from this saving, ex- haustless source they intend to fill the human mind with enough of the leaven of Truth to leaven the whole lump. [20]

There may be exceptional cases, where one Christian Scientist who has more to meet than others needs support at times; then, it is right to bear "one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

_In what way is a Christian Scientist an instrument by_ [25]

_which G.o.d reaches others to heal them, and what most_ _obstructs the way?_

A Christian, or a Christian Scientist, a.s.sumes no more when claiming to work with G.o.d in healing the sick, than in converting the sinner. Divine help is as neces-

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sary in the one case as in the other. The scientific Prin- [1]

ciple of healing demands such cooperation; but this unison and its power would be arrested if one were to mix material methods with the spiritual,-were to min- gle hygienic rules, drugs, and prayers in the same pro- [5]

cess,-and thus serve "other G.o.ds." Truth is as effectual in destroying sickness as in the destruction of sin.

It is often asked, "If Christian Science is the same method of healing that Jesus and the apostles used, [10]

why do not its students perform as instantaneous cures as did those in the first century of the Christian era?"

In some instances the students of Christian Science equal the ancient prophets as healers. All true healing is governed by, and demonstrated on, the same Princi- [15]

ple as theirs; namely, the action of the divine Spirit, through the power of Truth to destroy error, discord of whatever sort. The reason that the same results fol- low not in every ease, is that the student does not in every case possess sufficiently the Christ-spirit and its [20]