  What figure is less favorable than a wolf in sheep's [20] clothing? The braying donkey whose ears stick out is less troublesome. What manner of man is it that has discovered an improvement on Christian Science, a “met- aphysical healing” by which error destroys error, and would gather all sorts into a “national convention” by [25] the sophistry that such is the true fold for Christian heal- ers, since the good shepherd cares for all? Yes; the good Shepherd does care for all, and His first care is to separate the sheep from the goats; and this is among the first lessons on healing taught by our [1] great Master. If, as the gentleman aforesaid states, large flocks of metaphysicians are wandering about without a leader, what has opened his eyes to see the need of taking them [5] out of the care of the great Shepherd, and behold the remedy, to help them by his own leadership? Is it that he can guide Christian Scientists better than they, through the guidance of our common Father, can guide them- selves? or is it that they are incapable of helping them- [10] selves thus? I as their teacher can say, They know far more of Christian Science than he who deprecates their condition appears to, and my heart pleads for them to possess more and more of Truth and Love; but mixing all grades [15] of persons is not productive of the better sort, although he who has self-interest in this mixing is apt to pro- pose it. Whoever desires to say, “good right, and good wrong,” has no truth to defend. It is a wise saying that “men [20] are known by their enemies.” To sympathize in any degree with error, is not to rectify it; but error always strives to unite, in a definition of purpose, with Truth, to give it buoyancy. What is under the mask, but error in borrowed plumes? [25] |
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