When Christ Jesus—and following him, Mrs. Eddy—healed even extreme cases of disease or sin, their statements of truth were simple and strong. If our healing is to be prompt and thorough, as theirs was, our own statement of truth must not only have the simplicity of the Christ, Truth, but be accompanied by the great love and deep spiritual conviction that characterized their healing.
It was the spirituality of our Master and our Leader that enabled them to discern the human need, and simultaneously the specific law of God that met that need. How different this is from a doctor's diagnosis of the physical body or the psychiatrist's diagnosis of mortal mind—both of which start from the premise that man is material.
The fallacy of turning to a medical diagnosis for comfort or aid in solving a problem is indicated in this statement of Mrs. Eddy's from Science and Health: "A physical diagnosis of disease—since mortal mind must be the cause of disease—tends to induce disease."Science and Health, p. 370; However, Mrs. Eddy tells us, "The Christian Scientist, through understanding mental anatomy, discerns and deals with the real cause of disease."ibid., pp. 462-463;
We are warned against making a mere psychiatric diagnosis by her comment: "We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief."ibid., p. 262; Then how do we discern a patient's need? In the same way that a dealer in antique furniture, an art critic, or an expert on coins is able to discriminate between the authentic and the imitation. He becomes so thoroughly acquainted with the original that counterfeits cannot fool him.
The practitioner should be able to discern the spiritual reality so clearly that the accuser's lie about good and perfect man cannot deceive him.
Mrs. Eddy's understanding of God's power to preserve man's perfection enabled her to heal patients the doctors believed to be incurable. She tells us of healing instantly even an extreme case of malignant growth when she saw and felt that God recognizes no disease.See Unity of Good, p. 7;
When we behold a sick man or a sinner, we have to reverse this evidence and correct it. But Jesus saw just one thing—the perfect man. In Science and Health we read of him: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."Science and Health, pp. 476-477;
Jesus' spiritual conviction made him so aware of the divine authority given him by God that when a centurion asked his aid for a servant tormented by palsy Jesus replied without hesitation, "I will come and heal him"—not "I will come and do what I can to comfort him," but "I will come and heal him"—"and his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."See Matt. 8:5-13;
Jesus saw good as natural and evil as unnatural. When we share this conviction, we can approach the solution of every problem with calm, deep realization of the omnipresent love of God, comforting, cherishing, and preserving the perfection of man.
I was eleven when I attended Christian Science Sunday School for the first time. I left the class that day convinced of a simple, vital truth—that God is the only creator and His creation is all good; so, clearly, evil could not be real. That very day I was able to apply this truth and to heal the friend who had invited me to visit the Sunday School. So powerful is the Word of God!
In our Leader's Miscellaneous Writings we read, "Learn what in thine own mentality is unlike 'the anointed,' and cast it out; then thou wilt discern the error in thy patient's mind that makes his body sick, and remove it, and rest like the dove from the deluge."Mis., p. 355; It is not enough that a practitioner give treatment from morning until night. He needs quiet times of study and communion with God. Even Jesus at times went alone to the mountain for spiritual refreshment, and when he returned to the people, his exalted spiritual renewal blessed and healed everyone who turned to him for help.
The practitioner needs first to heal himself—to heal himself of sin before he can prove the unreality of sin for his patients; to free himself from belief in the reality of disease before he can prove its nonexistence for the patient. Even as the Master sanctified himself for the sake of his followers, we, too, sanctify ourselves for the sake of those who come to us for healing.
Disease and sin are not substantial realities to be changed or eliminated. They are produced by mesmerism and are beliefs only. These beliefs, whether they are acute or chronic, are healed by awakening to the reality of spiritual perfection. When we immediately attain the mountaintop of clear perception of the allness of good, the healing is instantaneous. If sometimes we need patient continuance in affirming this truth, its healing power is still certain.
Basic to our healing work is a clear perception of the allness of God, His goodness, His eternal presence and great, universal love for His creation. Then we discern the wisdom and purity, the health and holiness expressed in man's nature—man, whose individuality is derived from Soul.
This strong, clear conviction lifts our consciousness to such a spiritual altitude that we can with divine authority annul the lies of material sense—the accuser—expressed through one or another phase of animal magnetism. We apply the specific law of God that corrects the specific illusion of discord imposing itself on the patient. There are not two powers, good and evil, opposing one another. The omnipotence of divine Love has no opposite, therefore no opposition.
In order to know man, we look to the evidence given by spiritual sense, and there we stand! We see man as the ultimate of spiritual creation, the very glory of God expressed; man having every good and perfect gift that God gives; the object of God's love and the expression of that love.
In these words Mrs. Eddy describes his nature: "Man is the idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming the universe with light."Science and Health, p. 266.
