Page:Faithhealingchri00buckiala.djvu/266

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252
"CHRISTIAN SCIENCE" AND "MIND CURE"

you will be sick.... Clairvoyants and medical charlatans are the prolific sources of sickness.... They first help to form the image of illness in mortal minds, by telling patients that they have a disease; and then they go to work to destroy that disease. They unweave their own webs.... When there were fewer doctors, and less thought was given to sanitary subjects, there were better constitutions and less disease.


Second.—Diet is a matter of no importance.

We are told that the simple food our forefathers ate assisted to make them healthy; but that is a mistake. Their diet would not cure dyspepsia at this period. With rules of health in the head, and the most digestible food in the stomach, there would still be dyspeptics.


Third.—Exercise is of no importance.

Because the muscles of the blacksmith's arm are strongly developed, it does not follow that exercise did it, or that an arm less used must be fragile. If matter were the cause of action, and muscles, without the coöperation of mortal mind, could lift the hammer and smite the nail, it might be thought true that hammering enlarges the muscles. But the trip-hammer is not increased in size by exercise. Why not, since muscles are as material as wood and iron.


Fourth.—A proper view of Mrs. Eddy's publications is, however, of great importance.

My publications alone heal more sickness than an unconscientious student can begin to reach. If patients seem the worse for reading my book, this change may either arise from the frightened mind of the physician, or mark the crisis of the disease. Perseverance in its perusal would heal them completely.


Fifth.

Never tell the sick they have more courage than strength. Tell them rather that their strength is in proportion to their courage.... Instruct the sick that they are not helpless victims; but that, if they only know how, they can resist dis-