Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 47

Out upon the sidewalk one winter morning, I observed a carriage draw up before a stately mansion; a portly gentleman alight, and take from his carriage the ominous hand-trunk.

"Ah!" thought I, "somebody has to take it; and what [15]

may the potion be?"

Just then a tiny, sweet face appeared in the vestibule, and red nose, suffused eyes, cough, and tired look, told the story; but, looking up quaintly, the poor child said,-

"I've got cold, doctor." [20]

Her apparent pride at sharing in a popular influenza was comical. However, her dividend, when compared with that of the household stockholders, was new; and doubtless their familiarity with what the stock paid, made them more serious over it. [25]

What if that sweet child, so bravely confessing that she had something that she ought not to have, and which mamma thought must be gotten rid of, had been taught the value of saying even more bravely, and believing it,- [30]

[Page 240.]

"I have _not_ got cold." [1]

Why, the doctor's squills and bills would have been avoided; and through the cold air the little one would have been bounding with sparkling eyes, and ruby cheeks painted and fattened by metaphysical hygiene. [5]

Parents and doctors must not take the sweet freshness out of the children's lives by that flippant caution, "You will get cold."

Predicting danger does not dignify life, whereas fore- casting liberty and joy does; for these are strong pro- [10]

moters of health and happiness. All education should contribute to moral and physical strength and freedom.

If a cold could get into the body without the a.s.sent of mind, nature would take it out as gently, or let it remain as harmlessly, as it takes the frost out of the ground or [15]

puts it into the ice-cream to the satisfaction of all.

The sapling bends to the breeze, while the st.u.r.dy oak, with form and inclination fixed, b.r.e.a.s.t.s the tornado. It is easier to incline the early thought rightly, than the biased mind. Children not mistaught, naturally love [20]

G.o.d; for they are pure-minded, affectionate, and gen- erally brave. Pa.s.sions, appet.i.tes, pride, selfishness, have slight sway over the fresh, unbiased thought.

Teach the children early self-government, and teach them nothing that is wrong. If they see their father with [25]

a cigarette in his mouth-suggest to them that the habit of smoking is not nice, and that nothing but a loathsome worm _naturally_ chews tobacco. Likewise soberly inform them that "Battle-Axe Plug" takes off men's heads; or, leaving these on, that it takes from their bodies a sweet [30]

something which belongs to nature,-namely, pure odors.

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From a religious point of view, the faith of both youth [1]

and adult should centre as steadfastly in G.o.d to benefit the body, as to benefit the mind. Body and mind are correlated in man's salvation; for man will no more enter heaven sick than as a sinner, and Christ's Christi- [5]

anity casts out sickness as well as sin of every sort.

Test, if you will, metaphysical healing on two patients: one having morals to be healed, the other having a physi- cal ailment. Use as your medicine the great alterative, Truth: give to the immoralist a mental dose that says, [10]

"You have no pleasure in sin," and witness the effects.

Either he will hate you, and try to make others do like- wise, so taking a dose of error big enough apparently to neutralize your Truth, else he will doubtingly await the result; during which interim, by constant combat and [15]

direful struggles, you get the victory and Truth heals him of the moral malady.

On the other hand, to the bedridden sufferer admin- ister this alternative Truth: "G.o.d never made you sick: there is no necessity for pain; and Truth destroys the [20]

error that insists on the necessity of any man's bondage to sin and sickness. "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.' "

Then, like blind Bartimeus, the doubting heart looks up through faith, and your patient rejoices in the gospel [25]

of health.

Thus, you see, it is easier to heal the physical than the moral ailment. When divine Truth and Love heal, of sin, the sinner who is at ease in sin, how much more should these heal, of sickness, the sick who are dis-eased, dis- [30]

comforted, and who long for relief!

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"Prayer And Healing"

The article of Professor T--, having the above cap- [1]

tion, published in _Zion's Herald_, December third, came not to my notice until January ninth. In it the Professor offered me, as President of the Metaphysical College in Boston, or one of my students, the liberal sum of one [5]

thousand dollars if either would reset certain dislocations without the use of hands, and two thousand dollars if either would give sight to one born blind.

Will the gentleman accept my thanks due to his gener- [10]

osity; for, if I should accept his bid on Christianity, he would lose his money.

Why?

Because I performed more difficult tasks fifteen years ago. At present, I am in another department of Christian [15]

work, "where there shall no signs be given them," for they shall be instructed in the Principle of Christian Science that furnishes its own proof.

But, to reward his liberality, I offer him three thou- sand dollars if he will heal one single case of opium-eating [20]

where the patient is very low and taking morphine powder in its most concentrated form, at the rate of one ounce in two weeks,-having taken it twenty years; and he is to cure that habit in three days, leaving the patient well. I cured precisely such a case in 1869. [25]

Also, Mr. C. M. H--, of Boston, formerly partner of George T. Brown, pharmacist, No. 5 Beacon St., will tell you that he was my student in December, 1884; and that before leaving the cla.s.s he took a patient thoroughly addicted to the use of opium-if she went without it [30]

[Page 243.]

twenty-four hours she would have delirium-and in [1]

forty-eight hours cured her perfectly of this habit, with no bad results, but with decided improvement in health.

I have not yet made surgery one of the mental branches [5]

taught in my college; although students treat sprains, contusions, etc., successfully. In the case of sprain of the wrist-joint, where the regular doctor had put on splints and bandages to remain six weeks, a student of mine removed these appliances the same day and effected the [10]

cure in less than one week. Reference, Mrs. M. A. F--, 107 Eutaw Street, East Boston.

I agree with the Professor, that every system of medi- cine claims more than it practises. If the system is Science, it includes of necessity the Principle, which the learner [15]

can demonstrate only in proportion as he understands it.

Boasting is unbecoming a mortal's poor performances.

My Christian students are proverbially modest: their works alone should declare them, since my system of medi- cine is not generally understood. There are charlatans [20]

in "mind-cure," who practise on the basis of matter, or human will, not Mind.

The Professor alludes to Paul's advice to Timothy.

Did he refer to that questionable counsel, "Take a little wine for thy stomach's sake"? Even doctors disagree [25]

on that prescription: some of the medical faculty will tell you that alcoholic drinks cause the coats of the stomach to thicken and the organ to contract; will prevent the secretions of the gastric juice, and induce ulceration, bleeding, vomiting, death. [30]

Again, the Professor quotes, in justification of material methods, and as veritable: "He took a bone from the