christian science-第29章

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That　the　twelve　disciples　undertook　to　do　the　Master's　work　of　healing；
and　that　they；　in　their　measure；　succeeded；　seems　beyond　question。　　They
found　in　themselves　the　same　power　that　the　Master　found　in　Himself；　and
they　used　it　as　He　had　used　His　power。　　The　record　of　The　Acts　of　the
Apostles；　if　at　all　trustworthy　history；　shows　that　they；　too；　healed　the
sick。

Beyond　the　circle　of　the　original　twelve；　it　is　equally　clear　that　the
early　disciples　believed　themselves　charged　with　the　same　mission；　and
that　they　sought　to　fulfil　it。　　The　records　of　the　early　Church　make　it
indisputable　that　powers　of　healing　were　recognized　as　among　the　gifts　of
the　Spirit。　　St。　　Paul's　letters　render　it　certain　that　these　gifts　were
not　a　privilege　of　the　original　twelve；　merely；　but　that　they　were　the
heritage　into　which　all　the　disciples　entered。

Beyond　the　era　of　the　primitive　Church；　through　several　generations；　the
early　Christians　felt　themselves　called　to　the　same　ministry　of　healing；
and　enabled　with　the　same　secret　of　power。　　Through　wellnigh　three
centuries；　the　gifts　of　healing　appear　to　have　been；　more　or　less；
recognized　and　exercised　in　the　Church。　　Through　those　generations；
however；　there　was　a　gradual　disuse　of　this　power；　following　upon　a
failing　recognition　of　its　possession。　　That　which　was　originally　the
rule　became　the　exception。　　By　degrees；　the　sense　of　authority　and　power
to　heal　passed　out　from　the　consciousness　of　the　Church。　　It　ceased　to　be
a　sign　of　the　indwelling　Spirit。　　For　fifteen　centuries；　the　recognition
of　this　authority　and　power　has　been　altogether　exceptional。　　Here　and
there；　through　the　history　of　these　centuries；　there　have　been　those　who
have　entered　into　this　belief　of　their　own　privilege　and　duty；　and　have
used　the　gift　which　they　recognized。　　The　Church　has　never　been　left
without　a　line　of　witnesses　to　this　aspect　of　the　discipleship　of　Christ。
But　she　has　come　to　accept　it　as　the　normal　order　of　things　that　what　was
once　the　rule　in　the　Christian　Church　should　be　now　only　the　exception。
Orthodoxy　has　framed　a　theory　of　the　words　of　Jesus　to　account　for　this
strange　departure　of　His　Church　from　them。　　It　teaches　us　to　believe　that
His　example　was　not　meant　to　be　followed；　in　this　respect；　by　all　His
disciples。　　The　power　of　healing　which　was　in　Him　was　a　purely
exceptional　power。　　It　was　used　as　an　evidence　of　His　divine　mission。　　It
was　a　miraculous　gift。　　The　gift　of　working　miracles　was　not　bestowed
upon　His　Church　at　large。　　His　original　disciples；　the　twelve　apostles；
received　this　gift；　as　a　necessity　of　the　critical　epoch　of　Christianity
the　founding　of　the　Church。　　Traces　of　the　power　lingered　on；　in
weakening　activity；　until　they　gradually　ceased；　and　the　normal　condition
of　the　Church　was　entered　upon；　in　which　miracles　are　no　longer　possible。


We　accept　this；　unconsciously；　as　the　true　state　of　things　in
Christianity。　　But　it　is　a　conception　which　will　not　bear　a　moment's
examination。　　There　is　not　the　slightest　suggestion　upon　record　that
Christ　set　any　limit　to　this　charge　which　He　gave　His　disciples。　　On　the
contrary；　there　are　not　lacking　hints　that　He　looked　for　the　possession
and　exercise　of　this　power　wherever　His　spirit　breathed　in　men。

Even　if　the　concluding　paragraph　of　St。　Mark's　Gospel　were　a　later
appendix；　it　may　none　the　less　have　been　a　faithful　echo　of　words　of　the
Master；　as　it　certainly　is　a　trustworthy　record　of　the　belief　of　the
early　Christians　as　to　the　thought　of　Jesus　concerning　His　followers。　　In
that　interesting　passage；　Jesus；　after　His　death；　appeared　to　the　eleven；
and　formally　commissioned　them；　again；　to　take　up　His　work　in　the　world；
bidding　them；　〃Go　ye　into　all　the　world　and　preach　the　gospel　to　every
creature。〃　　〃And　these　signs；〃　He　tells　them；　〃shall　follow　them　that
believe〃not　the　apostles　only；　but　〃them　that　believe；〃　without　limit
of　time；　〃in　My　name　they　shall　cast　out　devils　。　　。　　。　　they　shall　lay
hands　on　the　sick　and　they　shall　recover。〃　　The　concluding　discourse　to
the　disciples；　recorded　in　the　Gospel　according　to　St。　　John；　affirms　the
same　expectation　on　the　part　of　Jesus；　emphasizing　it　in　His　solemn　way：
〃Verily；　verily；　I　say　unto　you；　He　that　believeth　on　Me；　the　works　that
I　do　shall　he　do　also；　and　greater　works　than　these　shall　he　do。〃




APPENDIX　F

Few　will　deny　that　an　intelligence　apart　from　man　formed　and　governs　the
spiritual　universe　and　man；　and　this　intelligence　is　the　eternal　Mind；
and　neither　matter　nor　man　created　this　intelligence　and　divine
Principle；　nor　can　this　Principle　produce　aught　unlike　itself。　　All　that
we　term　sin；　sickness；　and　death　is　comprised　in　the　belief　of　matter。
The　realm　of　the　real　is　spiritual；　the　opposite　of　Spirit　is　matter；　and
the　opposite　of　the　real　is　unreal　or　material。　　Matter　is　an　error　of
statement；　for　there　is　no　matter。　　This　error　of　premises　leads　to　error
of　conclusion　in　every　statement　of　matter　as　a　basis。　　Nothing　we　can
say　or　believe　regarding　matter　is　true；　except　that　matter　is　unreal；
simply　a　belief　that　has　its　beginning　and　ending。

The　conservative　firm　called　matter　and　mind　God　never　formed。　　The
unerring　and　eternal　Mind　destroys　this　imaginary　copartnership；　formed
only　to　be　dissolved　in　a　manner　and　at　a　period　unknown。　　This
copartnership　is　obsolete。　　Placed　under　the　microscope　of　metaphysics
matter　disappears。　　Only　by　understanding　there　are　not　two；　matter　and
mind；　is　a　logical　and　correct　conclusion　obtained　by　either　one。
Science　gathers　not　grapes　of　thorns　or　figs　of　thistles。　　Intelligence
never　produced　non…intelligence；　such　as　matter：　the　immortal　never
produced　mortality；　good　never　resulted　in　evil。　　The　science　of　Mind
shows　conclusively　that　matter　is　a　myth。　　Metaphysics　are　above　physics；
and　drag　not　matter；　or　what　is　termed　that；　into　one　of　its　premises　or
conclusions。　　Metaphysics　resolves　things　into　thoughts；　and　exchanges
the　objects　of　sense　for　the　ideas　of　Soul。　　These　ideas　are　perfectly
tangible　and　real　to　consciousness；　and　they　have　this　advantage　they
are　eternal。　　Mind　and　its　thoughts　comprise　the　whole　of　God；　the
universe；　and　of　man。　　Reason　and　revelation　coincide　with　this
statement；　and　support　its　proof　every　hour；　for　nothing　is　harmonious　or
eternal　that　is　not　spiritual：　the　realization　of　this　will　bring　out
objects　from　a　higher　source　of　thought；　hence　more　beautiful　and
immortal。

The　fact　of　spiritualization　produces　results　in　striking　contrast　to　the
farce　of　materialization：　the　one　produces　the　results　of　chastity　and
purity；　the　other　the　downward　tendencies　and　earthward　gravitation　of
sensualism　and　impurity。

The　exalting　and　healing　effects　of　metaphysics　show　their　fountain。
Nothing　in　pathology　has　exceeded　the　application　of　metaphysics。
Through　mind　alone　we　have　prevented　disease　and　preserved　health。　　In
cases　of　chronic　and　acute　diseases；　in　their　severest　forms；　we　have
changed　the　secretions；　renewed　structure；　and　restored　health；　have
elongated　shortened　limbs；　relaxed　rigid　muscles；　made　cicatrized　joints
supple；　restored　carious　bones　to　healthy　conditions；　renewed　that　which
is　termed　the　lost　substance　of　the　lungs；　and　restored　healthy
organizations　where　disease　was　organic　instead　of　functional。




MRS。　EDDY　IN　ERROR

I　feel　almost　sure　that　Mrs。　Eddy's　inspirationworks　are　getting　out　of
repair。　　I　think　so　because　they　made　some　errors　in　a　statement　which
she　uttered　through　the　press　on　the　17th　of　January。　　Not　large　ones；
perhaps；　still　it　is　a　friend's　duty　to　straighten　such　things　out　and
get　them　right　when　he　can。　　Therefore　I　will　put　my　other　duties　aside
for　a　moment　and　undertake　this　helpful　service。　　She　said　as　follows：

〃In　view　of　the　circulation　of　certain　criticisms　from　the　pen　of　Mark
Twain；　I　submit　the　following　statement：

〃It　is　a　fact；　well　understood；　that　I　begged　the　students　who　first　gave
me　the　endearing　appellative　'mother'　not　to　name　me　thus。　　But；　without
my　consent；　that　word　spread　like　wildfire。　　I　still　must　think　the　name
is　not　applicable　to　me。　　I　stand　in　relation　to　this　century　as　a
Christian　discoverer；　founder；　and　leader。　　I　regard　self…deification　as
blasphemous；　I　may　be　more　loved；　but　I　am　less　lauded；　pampered；
provided　for；　and　cheered　than　others　before　meand　wherefore？　　Because
Christian　Science　is　not　yet　popular；　and　I　refuse　adulation。

〃My　visit　to　the　Mother…Church　after　it　was　built　and　dedicated　pleased
me；　and　the　situation　was　satisfactory。　　The　dear　members　wanted　to　greet
me　with　escort　and　the　ringing　of　bells；　but　I　declined；　and　went　alone
in　my　carriage　to　the　church；　entered　it；　and　knelt　in　thanks　upon　the
steps　of　its　altar。　　There　the　foresplendor　of　the　beginnings　of　truth
fell　mysteriously　upon　my　spirit。　　I　believe　in　one　Christ；　teach　one
Christ；　know　of　but　one　Christ。　　I　believe　in　but　one　incarnation；　one
Mother　Mary；　and　know　I　am　not　that　one；　and　never　claimed　to　be。　　It
suffices　me　to　learn　the　Science　of　the　Scriptures　relative　to　this
subject。

〃Christian　Scientists　have　no　quarrel　with　Protestants；　Catholics；　or　any
other　sect。　　They　need　to　be　understood　as　following　the　divine　Principle
God；　Love　and　not　imagined　to　be　unscientific　worshippers　of　a　human
being。

〃In　the　aforesaid　article；　of　which　I　have　seen　only　extracts；　Mark
Twain's　wit　was　not　wasted　In　certain　directions。　　Christian　Science
eschews　divine　rights　in　human　beings。　　If　the　individual　governed　human
consciousness；　my　statement　of　Christian　Science　would　be　disproved；　but
to　understand　the　spiritual　idea　is　essential　to　demonstrate　Science　and
its　pure　monotheismone　God；　one　Christ；　no　idolatry；　no　human
propaganda。　　Jesus　taught　and　proved　that　what　feeds　a　few　feeds　all。
His　life…work　subordinated　the　material　to　the　spiritual；　and　He　left
this　legacy　of　truth　to　mankind。　　His　metaphysics　is　not　the　sport　of
philosophy；　religion；　or　Science；　rather　it　is　the　pith　and　finale　of
them　all。

〃I　have　not　the　inspiration　or　aspiration　to　be　a　first　or　second　Virgin…
Motherher　duplicate；　antecedent；　or　subsequent。　　What　I　am　remains　to
be　proved　by　the　good　I　do。　　We　need　much　humility；　wisdom；　and　love　to
perform　the　functions　of　foreshadowing　and　foretasting　heaven　within　us。
This　glory　is　molten　in　the　furnace　of　affliction。〃

She　still　thinks　the　name　of　Our　Mother　not　applicable　to　her；　and　she　is
also　able　to　remember　that　it　distressed　her　when　it　was　conferred　upon
her；　and　that　she　begged　to　have　it　suppressed。　　Her　memory　is　at　fault
here。　　If　she　will　take　her　By…laws；　and　refer　to　Section　1　of　Article
XXII。；　written　with　her　own　handshe　will　find　that　she　has　reserved
that　title　to　herself；　and　is　so　pleased　with　it；　and　somay　we　say
jealous？about　it；　that　she　threatens　with　excommunication　any　sister
Scientist　who　shall　call　herself　by　it。　　This　is　that　Section　1：

〃The　Title　of　Mother。　　In　the　year　1895　loyal　Christian　Scientists　had
given　to　the　author　of　their　text…book；　the　Founder　of　Christian　Science；
the　individual；　endearing　term　of　Mother。　　Therefore；　if　a　student　of
Christian　Science　shall　apply　this　title；　eithe