"OH, he had a change of heart!" How often we hear this expression, signifying that someone has changed his mind in regard to some situation, altered his decision as to some action. It may be a change from unkindness to generosity or the reverse, but at any rate his mental attitude is changed. In religious circles a change of heart may mean a state of repentance, sometimes accompanied by short-lived religious fervor, at other times bringing about permanent betterment. The so-called physical organ called the heart, which some suppose to be the seat of these emotions, is looked upon as one of the most vital organs of the human body. Let us consider this subject from the standpoint of Christian Science.
On page 587 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy gives us a definition of heart which places it completely in the mental realm. It is as follows: "Heart. Mortal feelings, motives, affections, joys, and sorrows." May we not find in this definition that which will help us to understand and overcome heart trouble?
The human mind in its supposititious creation makes for itself a heart of fleshly substance—gives to it power over a mortal's life and then bows down to its own mythical creation in fear and trembling. One may ask himself a simple question and find in an honest, intelligent answer help in time of trouble. Can a fleshly heart feel of itself, beat, palpitate, or harden of itself, uncontrolled by thought? The answer must be "No." Inanimate, nonintelligent, so-called matter cannot of itself act or cease to act. It is in itself the expression of the human mind and has no existence apart from that mind.
