Books by Mary Baker Eddy

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
page 142

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

   This age is reaching out towards the perfect Principle
of things; is pushing towards perfection in art, invention,
and manufacture. Why, then, should religion be
stereotyped, and we not obtain a more perfect and practical
Christianity? It will never do to be behind the
times in things most essential, which proceed from the
standard of right that regulates human destiny. Human
skill but foreshadows what is next to appear as its divine
origin. Proportionately as we part with material systems
and theories, personal doctrines and dogmas, meekly to
ascend the hill of Science, shall we reach the maximum
of perfection in all things.
   Spirit is omnipotent; hence a more spiritual Christianity
will be one having more power, having perfected
in Science that most important of all arts, - healing.
   Metaphysical healing, or Christian Science, is a demand
of the times. Every man and every woman would
desire and demand it, if he and she knew its infinite
value and firm basis. The unerring and fixed Principle
of all healing is God; and this Principle should be
sought from the love of good, from the most spiritual
and unselfish motives. Then will it be understood to be
of God, and not of man; and this will prevent mankind
from striking out promiscuously, teaching and practising

MISC 233

in the name of Science without knowing its fundamental
Principle.
   It is important to know that a malpractice of the best
system will result in the worst form of medicine. Moreover,
the feverish, disgusting pride of those who call
themselves metaphysicians or Scientists, - but are such
in name only, - fanned by the breath of mental malpractice,
is the death's-head at the feast of Truth; the
monkey in harlequin jacket that will retard the onward
march of life-giving Science, if not understood and withstood,
and so strangled in its attempts.
   The standard of metaphysical healing is traduced by
thinking to put into the old garment of drugging the new
cloth of metaphysics; or by trying to twist the fatal
magnetic force of mortal mind, termed hypnotism, into
a more fashionable cut and naming that "mind-cure,"
or - which is still worse in the eyes of Truth - terming
it metaphysics! Substituting good words for a good life,
fair-seeming for straightforward character, mental malpractice
for the practice of true medicine, is a poor shift
for the weak and worldly who think the standard of
Christian Science too high for them.
   What think you of a scientist in mathematics who finds
fault with the exactness of the rule because unwilling to
work hard enough to practise it? The perfection of the
rule of Christian Science is what constitutes its utility:
having a true standard, if some fall short, others will
approach it; and these are they only who adhere to that
standard.
   Matter must be understood as a false belief or product
of mortal mind: whence we learn that sensation is not
in matter, but in this so-called mind; that we see and

MISC 234

feel disease only by reason of our belief in it: then shall
matter remain no longer to blind us to Spirit, and clog
the wheels of progress. We spread our wings in vain when
we attempt to mount above error by speculative views
of Truth.
Love is the Principle of divine Science; and Love is
not learned of the material senses, nor gained by a culpable
attempt to seem what we have not lifted ourselves
to be, namely, a Christian. In love for man, we gain a

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