Mary Baker Eddy

“ I deprecate the dishonesty which prompts any so-called Christian Scientist to withhold my name, while appropriating my language and ideas, and even credit these citations to another author, who has but touched the hem of the garment of Christian Science, and not embraced the living Truth, heart to heart.
These detractors confiscate the ideas of those whose lives they misrepresent; but Life and its ideal are inseparable, and one's thoughts on ethics, or the Science of Christianity, are not, can not be, understood by those who persistently misunderstand or misrepresent the thinker. ”

“ In Science, Life is not temporal, but eternal, without beginning or ending. The word Life never means that which is the source of death, and of good and evil. Such an inference is unscientific. It is like saying that addition means subtraction in one instance, and addition in another, and then applying this rule to a demonstration of the science of numbers; even as mortals apply finite terms to God, in demonstration of Infinity. Life is a term used to indicate Deity; and every other name for the Supreme Being, if properly employed, has the signification of Life. ”

“ Science reveals Life as a complete sphere, as eternal self-existent Mind; material sense defines life as a broken sphere, as organized matter, and mind as something separate from God. Science reveals Spirit as all, averring that there is nothing beside God; material sense says that matter, His antipodes, is something besides God. Material sense adds that the divine Spirit created matter, and that matter and evil are as real as Spirit and Good. ”

“ You are without hope and without God in the world.’ You do not exist, and have no right to, for ‘perfect Love casteth out fear.’” God is everywhere. “There is no speech nor language where His voice is not heard”; and this voice is Truth that destroys error, and Love that casts out fear.
Science reveals the fact that if suffering exists it is in the mortal mind only, for matter has no sensation and can not suffer. If you rule out every sense of disease and suffering from mortal mind, it can not be found in the body. ”

“ From that hour physical personality became much less to me than it is to people who misuse it, I endeavored to lift thought above physical personality, or selfhood in matter, to man's spiritual individuality in Good, God, — to the true Mind, where sensible evil is lost in supersensible Good. ”

“ Science is the only sure basis of harmony. Material sense contradicts Science, for matter takes no cognizance of the spiritual facts of the universe, or of man and God. Science declares that there is but one Truth, Life, Love, but one Spirit, Mind, Soul. Any attempt to divide these arises from the fallibility of sense, from mortal man’s ignorance, from his hatred of God and Divine Science.
Sickness is a belief, a latent fear, made manifest on the body in different forms of fear, or disease. ”

“ As pioneer I stood alone in this conflict, endeavoring to smite error with the falchion of Truth. The rare bequests of Science are costly. Christian Science has won fields of battle, from which its dainty borrowers would have timorously fled. Ceaseless toil, self-renunciation, and love, have cleared the pathway for Christian Science. ”

“ The Principle and rule of Mind-healing are wholly Christly and spiritual. To adopt any material method or subterfuge in its demonstration is a departure from Science. Fleeing to drugs, hygiene, manipulation, alcohol, tobacco, hiding from God in any way, or leaning on anything but the divine Mind, to make or keep man well and happy, are so many conspiracies against human health and happiness, and against an honest Metaphysical practice. ”

“ I knew the human conception of God to be that He was a physically personal being, like unto man; and that the five physical senses are so many witnesses to the physical personality of mind, and the real existence of matter; but I learned that these material senses testify falsely, that matter neither sees, hears, nor feels Spirit, and is therefore inadequate to form any proper conception of the infinite Mind. ”

“ FAITH-CURE.
It is asked: Why are faith-cures sometimes more speedy than some of the cures wrought through Christian Scientists? Because faith is belief, and not understanding; and it is easier to believe than to understand spiritual Truth. It demands less cross-bearing, self-renunciation, and Divine Science, to admit the claims of the personal senses, and appeal for relief to a humanized God, than to deny those claims, and learn the divine way, drinking Jesus’ cup, being baptized with his baptism, gaining the end through persecution and purity. ”

“ This just affection serves to constitute the Mind-healer a wonder-worker, — as of old, on the Pentecost Day, when the disciples were “of one accord.”
He who gains the God-crowned summit of Christian Science, never abuses personality. He thinks of every one in his true character, whether it be good or evil, and also sees him in his impersonal light, the light of stars. He discerns error quickly, and is at peace only with Truth. This Scientist loves Good involuntarily, loves whatever leads his affections higher, into purer joy and spiritual power. ”

“ The silent arguments of those who themselves turn away, and would turn away others, from the Spirit of Christian Science, — these arguments exert a mode and power similar to that blessed, silent, mental argument which heals the sick and sinful. This silent subversion of mental power is the most hidden form, the highest attenuation, yet the most powerful mode of error, which can be employed to harm mankind; whereas the opposite work of healing, in the Science of Metaphysics, is the most sacred and salutary power which can be wielded. ”

“ If so-called Evangelical churches refuse fellowship with the Church of Christ, or Christian Science, they must rest their opinions of Truth and Love on the evidences of the senses, rather than on the works of the Spirit. Ritualism and dogma lead to self-righteousness and bigotry, which freeze out the spiritual element. Pharisaism killeth; Spirit giveth Life. The odors of persecution, tobacco, and alcchol are not the sweet-smelling savor of Truth and Love. Feasting the senses, gratification of appetite and passion, have no warrant in the Gospel or the Decalogue. ”

“ My loyal students, impressed with the true sense of the great work before them, enter this strait and narrow path rejoicingly, work conscientiously, and love their Teacher.
The Nineteenth Century, like the first, has its Judases who betray Truth for thirty pieces of silver,— dividing its raiment; “and for its vesture they cast lots.” Posterity demands that Christian Science be stated and demonstrated in its godliness and grandeur, — that however little be taught or learned, that little shall be right. Let there be milk for babes, but let not the milk be adulterated. ”

“ Principle is right; it is practice that is wrong. Soul is right; it is the flesh that is evil. If Soul is not right, the body can not be. Soul is the synonym of Spirit, God; hence there is but one Soul, and that one is infinite. ”

“ Sin is less Scientific than sickness; but recollect that it encourages sin to say “There is no sin,” and leave the subject there. Since there is in belief an illusion termed sin, which must be met and mastered, we classify sin, sickness, and death as illusions. They are supposititious claims of error; and error, being a false claim, they are no claims at all. Our duty is to abide in conscious harmony, even health-giving, deathless Truth and Love. To do this, mortals must open their eyes to the subtlety of error, that they may destroy it. ”

“ If the religion of today is constituted of such elements as of old ruled Christ out of the synagogues, it will avoid whatever follows the example of our Lord, and prefers Christ to creed. Christian Science is the most Evangelic religion on earth, according to the Spirit and tenor of Christianity, and the power of Christ as taught in the four gospels. Truth, casting out evils and healing the sick; Love, fulfilling the law, and keeping man unspotted from the world, — these practical manifestations of religion constitute the only Evangelical Christianity, and they need no creed. ”

“ Quack teachers, healers, and authors are flooding the community with their mental mixtures and mistakes, brazenly calling them Metaphysics and Christian Science. Unscientific theory and wrong mental practice are more fatal to sanitary reform, sound morals, health, and longevity than aught else can be,— even more so than the old-fashioned empirical treatment, by blood-letting, poisonous drugs, and the other multifarious modes of frightening people to death. ”

“ If one's spiritual ideal is comprehended and loved, the thinker is embraced in the same mental mood. The Science of Mind excludes opposites, and rests on unity. Envy must die of Love, or else lose its meaning, and live to lament it. The mind to which this Science was revealed must have risen to the altitude that let in light, light beyond what others saw, and this growth could never be lost, because it was growth. No mortal could have informed the human mind, of what the mortal and carnal can not discern. ”

“ The loyal Christian Scientist is incapable alike of abusing the practice of Mind-healing, or of healing on a material basis. Animal Magnetism has no basis. It is illusion; it is mortal mind, while Mind is immortal; it is whatever is destructive to health and morals. Our Master was led to Calvary’s cross by evil influences, and it is the function of Christian Science to uncover and cast out kindred evils. ”

“ Test the Science of Mind-healing on society, and you will find that the views here set forth, as to the unreality of sin, sickness, and death, bring forth better fruits of health, righteousness, and Life, than a belief in their reality has ever done. A demonstration of the unreality of evil destroys evil. ”

“ This century, blessed with the advent of Metaphysical Healing, of Christian Science, is also cursed, as all others have been,, with false notions, and with false teachers and healers, who are wilfully ignorant of the whole subject, or who claim to understand and demonstrate that of which they apprehend but a fraction, — who multiply words without knowledge, and support matter, instead of subduing the earth as the Scripture demands. They know enough to render their error and ignorance more plausible ”

“ Woman must give it birth. It must be begotten of purity, since none but the pure in heart can see God — the Principle of all things pure; and none but the pure could first state this Principle, could know yet more and more of the Infinite, could utilize Truth, and absolutely reduce the demonstration of Spirit, in Divine Science, to the apprehension of the age.
I wrote also, at this period, comments on the Scriptures, setting forth their spiritual interpretation, the Science of the Bible, and so laid the foundation of my work called Science and Health, published in 1875. ”

“ The methods of Animal Magnetism, especially its secret work, should be exposed. This alone can protect the people from a future Reign of Terror, far surpassing any terrorism of the Dark Ages. One has nothing to fear from this evil if he is conscious of its presence and, on the basis of Christian Science, understands its impotence.
Animal Magnetism is the opposite of Christian Science. Its effect on the senses — in pleasure and pain, passion and appetite, in pride, envy, malice, hate — is readily removed by the latter, if the cause of this effect is understood. ”

“ For Spirit to be supreme in demonstration, it must be supreme in our affections, and we must be clad with divine power. Purity, self-renunciation, faith, and understanding must reduce all things real to their own mental denomination, Mind, which divides, subdivides, increases, diminishes, constitutes, and sustains, according to the law of God. ”

“ As well expect to determine, without a telescope, the magnitude and distance of the stars, as to expect to obtain health, harmony, and holiness through an unspiritual and unhealing religion. Christianity reveals God as ever-present Truth and Love, to be utilized in healing the sick, in casting out error, in raising the dead.
Christianity gives Life to religion, which is no longer buried in materiality. Christianity raises men from a material sense, into the spiritual understanding and Scientific demonstration of God.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF
Christian Science Mind-Healing. ”

“ Doubters of the existence or the evil of Animal Magnetism, sneerers at the probability of its methods, will at no distant day have their eyes sharply opened. I have been too charitable towards this evil, through sheer ignorance. He who is guilty of mental malpractice scoffs at its possibilities. He who bears witness to them is the friend of humanity.
Let us follow the example of Jesus, the Master Metaphysician, and gain sufficient knowledge of error to destroy it with Truth. Evil is not resisted by evil; it can only be overcome with Good. This brings out the nothingness of evil ”

“ God is good, hence goodness is the Life of man. Its opposite, nothing, named evil, is a conspiracy against man’s Life and goodness. Do you not feel bound to expose this conspiracy. and so to save man from it? Whosoever covers iniquity becomes accessory to it. Sin, as a claim, is more dangerous than sickness, more subtle, more difficult to heal. ”