Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896. Mary Baker Eddy. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Mary Baker Eddy
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never commission any one to teach students of mine.

      After class teaching, he does best in the investigation of [20]

      Christian Science who is most reliant on himself and

      God. My students are taught the divine Principle and

      rules of the Science of Mind-healing. What they need

      thereafter is to study thoroughly the Scriptures and

      “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.” To [25]

      watch and pray, to be honest, earnest, loving, and truth-

      ful, is indispensable to the demonstration of the truth

      they have been taught.

      If they are haunted by obsequious helpers, who, un-

      called for, imagine they can help anybody and steady [30]

      God's altar—this interference prolongs the struggle

      [pg 088]

      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]

      [pg 089]

      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 God's likeness, is safe in divine Science.

      Mortal man is saved on this divine Principle, if he will

      only avail himself of the efficacy of Truth, and recog- [30]

      [pg 090]

      nize his Saviour. He must know that God 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

      circumstances 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]

      Passover, or last supper, without this prerogative being

      conferred by a visible organization and ordained priest-