Mind and Medicine
In his illuminating talk with the woman of Samaria, Christ Jesus declared, "God is a Spirit," or, as the American Standard Version of the Bible in a foot-note renders it, "God is Spirit." The Greek word for Spirit denotes "the vital Principle;" and a well-known Bible authority says that in Spirit "is . . . our true Ego." The term Ego signifies, as one of our dictionaries puts it, "the permanent real being to whom all the conscious states and attributes belong." Thus we see that in their highest and best sense Spirit, Principle, and Ego have practically the same meaning, and that this meaning may be summed up in two words: divine Mind. We also see that God is divine Mind.
Throughout the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, Mind is used interchangeably with God, Spirit, Principle, and Ego; while on page 143 of this book it is written, "Mind is the grand creator, and there can be no power except that which is derived from Mind." It therefore becomes plain that the right understanding of divine Mind, the divine intelligence, is the one thing which should have mankind's most careful attention,—yea, which should serve as the guide and the governor in every thought, word, and deed.
Perhaps never before in the world's history was there so much discussion about medicine and healing as there is today. While the so-called medicine of matter, as favored by the schools, naturally enters into the discussion, it by no means occupies the whole ground, for "the medicine of Science," which "is divine Mind," as Mrs. Eddy tells us (Science and Health, p. 104 ), is fast coming in for its important share of consideration and respect. While materia medica is setting forth its various theories and claims, Christian Science, through the Bible and its "Key," is revealing to the world the new-old Science of practical Christianity, the Science which now, as in Scriptural times, is known by its fruits,—the fruits of physical, mental, and moral healing and regeneration. In fact, so successful is this Science in dealing with the many seeming difficulties and inharmonies of human experience that people of every race and clime, in constantly increasing numbers, are seeking a knowledge of it and are striving to render it demonstrable.
"Which was first, Mind or medicine?" Mrs. Eddy asks, and she adds: "If Mind was first and self-existent, then Mind, not matter, must have been the first medicine. God being All-in-all, He made medicine; but that medicine was Mind. It could not have been matter, which departs from the nature and character of Mind, God" (Science and Health, p. 142 ). If one who believes in the teachings of Holy Writ but has not before been summoned to look upon Mind and matter as just presented, will set himself to reasoning logically and consistently, he will readily discern the great truth of Mrs. Eddy's statements. It will be clearly shown to him that since God is Spirit, or Mind, and the author of the entire creation, all is in reality Spirit, Mind, and its expression or manifestation.
Therefore, as Mrs. Eddy declares, Mind was the first medicine; and being such, it will always remain first, for God is unchangeable and eternal. God's children, then, should ever regard and depend upon divine Mind as their only remedy for every ill and discord. This whole-hearted dependence is plainly implied in Exodus, where God is heard to say, "I am the Lord that healeth thee;" and also in Psalms, where the writer enjoins, "Bless the Lord, . . . who forgiveth all thine iniquites; who healeth all thy diseases."
Christians are aware that the most successful healer who has walked the earth was Christ Jesus. He it was who never lost a case, and his practice covered all manner of sickness, disease, and inharmony. What were the means which Christ Jesus used and which made him so successful? The answer is given in his own words. He said, "I do nothing of myself;" and again, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." This was the secret of the Master's marvelous strength and success. God is Spirit, Mind, and it was because Christ Jesus expressed or reflected the divine Mind so perfectly—was so completely at-one with this Mind, even as a ray of sunlight reflects or is at-one with the sun—that he was able to do wonderful works and to speak with authority.
When the Master healed the sick and helpless, he did it through the divine Mind, not through matter. It is sometimes maintained that in the case of the man born blind Jesus resorted to material means for aid when he "spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and . . . anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay," at the same time saying, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." But the very fact that the Master "spat on the ground" (on the dust whence comes, in belief, all mortal error and discord) showed his utter contempt for matter, while his strict command to go and wash off the clay evidenced the necessity of one's being cleansed from that which is material. In this connection it should not be forgotten that immediately prior to anointing the man with the clay Jesus said, "I am the light of the world." Now, nobody believes that this "I" was meant to imply anything material. Rather was it meant to portray and to emphasize the divine Ego, the divine Mind, which animated and sustained the Master continually and gave him unlimited power over matter and its discords.
Again, when the Master changed water into wine at the wedding-feast, when he fed the five thousand with a mere handful of food, when he stilled the storm, went through solid walls, walked on the wave, took the boat across the lake in an instant, passed unseen through the multitude, and raised the dead, he did it through the might of divine Mind; that is to say, through an absolute understanding of the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniactivity of God. Jesus knew that because God is All-in-all, as the Scriptures teach, there could not possibly be aught besides Him and His perfect, harmonious spiritual creation. This constituted the Master's correct knowledge of the truth of being, and his faithful application of this knowledge brought to human view man's rightful heritage of dominion and freedom, as depicted so vividly in the opening chapter of Genesis. Thus it was that the great Exemplar made null and void so-called material oppression and bondage, and demonstrated "the glorious liberty of the children of God."
Christ Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." This means that those who understand the absoluteness or entireness of the divine Mind and its ideas, and make their understanding practical, can win success such as he won, thus establishing both for themselves and for others true and lasting health, happiness, joy, and peace. Christian Science continually directs the attention of its students to this wonderful saying by the Master, and in the language of the apostle Paul it declares, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus."
