In his epistle to the Galatians ( 6:7, 8) Paul writes: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." From these words several deductions may be drawn, namely, that thought determines character; that the nature of one's thoughts decides the nature of their effect on one; that sensuous thought ultimates in corruption—disease and death—and that spiritual thought, productive of righteous living, results in life which is harmonious. How reminiscent are the apostle's words of the verse in Proverbs (23:7), "As he [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he"!
Christian Science makes plain to its students the inevitable consequences of evil or unspiritual thinking, and emphasizes the imperative need of righteous or spiritual thinking on the part of every Christian Scientist. With Paul it declares that "the wages of sin is death," and that the effects of righteous or spiritual thinking are health and harmony. Referring to the effect of thought on the body, Mrs. Eddy says on page 34 of "Miscellaneous Writings," "The body is governed by mind; and mortal mind must be improved, before the body is renewed and harmonious,—since the physique is simply thought made manifest."
Our Leader's words are highly significant; and they should be so regarded by all who approach Christian Science for healing. What is the nature of the thoughts entertained by the sick person who comes to Christian Science for help? He may be regarding his condition as serious; he may be believing in pain, weakness, lack of energy, as very real; he may be despondent over the state in which he believes himself to be. Further, he may not be aware that his bodily condition is the result of thought; that the words of Paul, quoted above, apply to him. Consequently, he may be startled when he is informed by Christian Science that thought governs the body, and that for healing to take place his mental state must be taken into account and corrected. It were well should he be aroused sufficiently to set aside prejudice and turn wholeheartedly to a study of the Science which reveals the changeless perfection of God and the changeless perfection of man in God's image and likeness.
