My students, three picture-stories from the Bible pre- sent themselves to my thought; three of those pictures from which we learn without study. The first is that of [15]
Joshua and his band before the walls of Jericho. They went seven times around these walls, the seven times corresponding to the seven days of creation: the six days are to find out the nothingness of matter; the seventh is the day of rest, when it is found that evil is naught [20]
and good is all.
The second picture is of the disciples met together in an upper chamber; and they were of one mind. Mark, that in the case of Joshua and his band they had all to shout _together_ in order that the walls might fall; and the [25]
disciples, too, were of one mind.
We, to-day, in this cla.s.s-room, are enough to con- vert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind; as when
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earth was without form, and Mind spake and form [1]
appeared.
The third picture-lesson is from Revelation, where, at the opening of the seals, one of the angels presented him- self with balances to weigh the thoughts and actions of [5]
men; not angels with wings, but messengers of pure and holy thoughts that say, See thou hurt not the holy things of Truth.
You have come to be weighed; and yet, I would not weigh you, nor have you weighed. How is this? Be- [10]
cause G.o.d does all, and there is nothing in the opposite scale. There are not two,-Mind _and_ matter. We must get rid of that notion. As we commonly think, we imagine all is well if we cast something into the scale of Mind, but we must realize that Mind is not put into the [15]
scales with matter; then only are we working on one side and in Science.
The students of this Primary cla.s.s, dismissed the fifth of March, at close of the lecture on the fourth presented their teacher with an elegant alb.u.m costing fifty dollars, [20]
and containing beautiful hand-painted flowers on each page, with their autographs. The presentation was made in a brief address by Mr. D.A. Easton, who in appro- priate language and metaphor expressed his fellow-students"
thanks to their teacher. [25]
On the morning of the fifth, I met the cla.s.s to answer some questions before their dismissal, and allude briefly to a topic of great import to the student of Christian Science,-the rocks and sirens in their course, on and by which so many wrecks are made. The doors of animal [30]
magnetism open wide for the entrance of error, some- times just at the moment when you are ready to enter on
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the fruition of your labors, and with laudable ambition [1]
are about to chant hymns of victory for triumphs.
The doors that this animal element flings open are those of rivalry, jealousy, envy, revenge. It is the self- a.s.serting mortal will-power that you must guard against. [5]
But I find also another mental condition of yours that fills me with joy. I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy. But if one cherishes ambition unwisely, one will be chastened [10]
for it.
Admiral Coligny, in the time of the French Huguenots, was converted to Protestantism through a stray copy of the Scriptures that fell into his hands. He replied to his wife, who urged him to come out and confess his faith, [15]
"It is wise to count the cost of becoming a true Chris- tian." She answered him, "It is wiser to count the cost of _not_ becoming a true Christian." So, whatever we meet that is hard in the Christian warfare we must count as nothing, and must think instead, of our poverty and help- [20]
lessness without this understanding, and count ourselves always as debtors to Christ, Truth.
Among the gifts of my students, this of yours is one of the most beautiful and the most costly, because you have signed your names. I felt the weight of this yes- [25]
terday, but it came to me more clearly this morning when I realized what a responsibility you a.s.sume when sub- scribing to Christian Science. But, whatever may come to you, remember the words of Solomon, "Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished: but [30]
the seed of the righteous shall be delivered."
You will need, in future, _practice_ more than theory.
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You are going out to demonstrate a living faith, a true [1]
sense of the infinite good, a sense that does not limit G.o.d, but brings to human view an enlarged sense of Deity.
Remember, it is personality, and the sense of personality in G.o.d or in man, that limits man. [5]
Obtrusive Mental Healing
The question will present itself: Shall people be treated mentally without their knowledge or consent? The direct rule for practice of Christian Science is the Golden Rule, "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye," [10]
Who of us would have our houses broken open or our locks picked? and much less would we have our minds tampered with.
Our Master said, "When ye enter a house, salute it."
Prolonging the metaphysical tone of his command, I say, [15]
When you enter mentally the personal precincts of human thought, you should know that the person with whom you hold communion desires it. There are solitary ex- ceptions to most given rules: the following is an exception to the above rule of mental practice. [20]
If the friends of a patient desire you to treat him with- out his knowing it, and they believe in the efficacy of Mind-healing, it is sometimes wise to do so, and the end justifies the means; for he is restored through Christian Science when other means have failed. One other oc- [25]
casion which may call for aid unsought, is a case from accident, when there is no time for ceremony and no other aid is near.
The abuse which I call attention to, is promiscuous
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and unannounced mental practice where there is no neces- [1]
sity for it, or the motive is mercenary, or one can to ad- vantage speak the truth audibly; then the case is not exceptional. As a rule, one has no more right to enter the mind of a person, stir, upset, and adjust his thoughts [5]
without his knowledge or consent, than one has to enter a house, unlock the desk, displace the furniture, and suit one"s self in the arrangement and management of another man"s property.
It would be right to break into a burning building and [10]
rouse the slumbering inmates, but wrong to burst open doors and break through windows if no emergency de- manded this. Any exception to the old wholesome rule, "Mind your own business," is rare. For a student of mine to treat another student without his knowledge, is [15]
a breach of good manners and morals; it is nothing less than a mistaken kindness, a culpable ignorance, or a conscious trespa.s.s on the rights of mortals.
I insist on the etiquette of Christian Science, as well as its morals and Christianity. The Scriptural rule of [20]
this Science may momentarily be forgotten; but this is seldom the case with loyal students, or done without incriminating the person who did it.
Each student should, must, work out his own problem of being; conscious, meanwhile, that G.o.d worketh with [25]
him, and that he needs no personal aid. It is the genius of Christian Science to demonstrate good, not evil,- harmony, not discord; for Science is the mandate of Truth which destroys all error.
Whoever is honestly laboring to learn the principle of [30]
music and practise it, seldom calls on his teacher or mu- sician to practise for him. The only personal help re-
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quired in this Science is for each one to do his own work [1]
well, and never try to hinder others from doing theirs thus.
Christian Science, more than any other system of religion, morals, or medicine, is subject to abuses. Its [5]
infinite nature and uses occasion this. Even the human- itarian at work in this field of limitless power and good may possess a zeal without knowledge, and thus mistake the sphere of his present usefulness.
Students who strictly adhere to the right, and make the [10]
Bible and Science and Health a study, are in no danger of mistaking their way.