  The present stage of progress in Christian Science pre- [2] sents two opposite aspects,—a full-orbed promise, and a gaunt want. The need, however, is not of the letter, but the spirit. [5] Less teaching and good healing is to-day the acme of “well done;” a healing that is not guesswork,—chronic recovery ebbing and flowing,—but instantaneous cure. This absolute demonstration of Science must be revived. To consummate this desideratum, mortal mind must pass [10] through three stages of growth. First, self-knowledge. The physician must know him- self and understand the mental state of his patient. Error found out is two-thirds destroyed, and the last third pierces itself, for the remainder only stimulates and gives [15] scope to higher demonstration. To strike out right and left against the mist, never clears the vision; but to lift your head above it, is a sovereign panacea. Mental dark- ness is senseless error, neither intelligence nor power, and its victim is responsible for its supposititious presence. [20] “Cast the beam out of thine own eye.” 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. [25] “Physician, heal thyself.” Let no clouds of sin gather and fall in mist and showers from thine own mental atmosphere. Hold thy gaze to the light, and the iris of faith, more beautiful than the rainbow seen from my window at the close of a balmy autumnal day, will span [30] thy heavens of thought. A radiant sunset, beautiful as blessings when they take [1] their flight, dilates and kindles into rest. Thus will a life corrected illumine its own atmosphere with spiritual glow and understanding. The pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible [5] detonation to free them. Envy, rivalry, hate need no temporary indulgence that they be destroyed through suffering; they should be stifled from lack of air and freedom. My students, with cultured intellects, chastened affec- [10] tions, and costly hopes, give promise of grand careers. But they must remember that the seedtime is passed, the harvest hour has come; and songs should ascend from the mount of revelation, sweeter than the sound of vintage bells. [15] The seed of Christian Science, which when sown was “the least of all seeds,” has sprung up, borne fruit, and the birds of the air, the uplifted desires of the human heart, have lodged in its branches. Now let my faithful students carry the fruit of this tree into the rock-ribbed [20] nests of the raven's callow brood. The second stage of mental development is humility. This virtue triumphs over the flesh; it is the genius of Christian Science. One can never go up, until one has gone down in his own esteem. Humility is lens and [25] prism to the understanding of Mind-healing; it must be had to understand our textbook; it is indispensable to personal growth, and points out the chart of its divine Principle and rule of practice. Cherish humility, “watch,” and “pray without ceasing,” [30] or you will miss the way of Truth and Love. Humility is no busybody: it has no moments for trafficking in other people's business, no place for envy, no time for [1] idle words, vain amusements, and all the et cetera of the ways and means of personal sense. Let Christian Scientists minister to the sick; the school- room is the dernier ressort. Let them seek the lost
|
|
