A skilful counterfeiter is sometimes capable of producing a bill or coin which closely imitates the lawful money issued by the government, but as soon as it gets into circulation the discovery of its falsity has become a mere question of time. Clumsier counterfeits are more numerous, and their detection is speedier. The government wisely persists in issuing and in redeeming its genuine bills and coins, and people receive them in all their businesses, notwithstanding the circumstance that the lawless and worthless currency is known to exist. But the government and all who handle money recognize the constant need of alert knowledge in discriminating between the true and the imitations of the true. Gold does not lose any of its value because baser metals may be made to resemble it very closely.
The Christian way of healing the sick in mind and body was in use during the first three centuries of the Christian era, and has again been in use since the advent of the Christian Science movement in this age. Jesus taught and proved that his way of healing the sick was lawful. He declared that his works were the works of the Father, and these words plainly mean that his works were according to the divine law which governs mans being. But the early Christians found it needful to issue repeated warnings against those who were counterfeiting the true and lawful way by means of false and unlawful methods. In the earlier days they who were guilty of lawless methods were termed magicians, necromancers, etc. In these days, the best known name for them is hypnotists.
For a long time the serpent has symbolized the deceit and cunning of mortal mind which has been more or less successful in its efforts to hide its guilt by masquerading as true and good. Mrs. Eddy therefore found it needful to publish many warnings against the modern counterfeit which, avoiding its old appellations, comes to be known as mesmerism, animal magnetism, hypnotism, mental suggestion, suggestive therapeutics, etc. The persistent forger has always found it advisable to assume a different name from time to time, since the old name in due time stands for unworthiness in public thought.
