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Principle and Precedent
It can truly be said that the mortal or carnal mind knows nothing of either absolute Principle or precedent. This so-called mind does, however, claim to understand precedent and, to be agreeable with the capricious notion of this mind, it will be admitted that it follows precedent faithfully. In fact, there is nothing else for it to do but imitate with its shallow understanding of that term whenever it feels the pressure of Truth prodding it on. On page 6 of her sermon entitled "The People's Idea of God" Mrs. Eddy writes, "Periods and peoples are characterized by their highest or their lowest ideals, by their God and their devil."
Now Christian Science teaches that the man God created in His "own image and likeness" was "very good." If God is wholly good, then it must inevitably follow that man is likewise. Such a man as this could surely have no devil, but the galimatias of the serpent, alias mortal mind, gradually, according to the second account of creation given in the book of Genesis, gave man a devil to fear and worship. So it is that man finds himself trying to serve two masters. This is an undertaking never known to have been consummated; therefore a man may prefer to set Principle quietly and unblushingly aside and follow precedent. Thus in this marvelous day of enlightenment and toleration we read and hear of individuals summoned before judges and juries for having been loyal to their highest understanding of Principle, to explain why they have not bowed down to the popular devil of vaccination, for instance. In the olden days people wore amulets to protect them from evils and to ward off disease. Can it be possible that a scar on one's arm to-day is a protection to others as well as to one's self, making one immune from disease? Or are mortals still engrossed with the belief that God made them to be sick and sinning, but to foil His designs they must seek out a preventive?

March 12, 1921 issue
View Issue-
None Other Way
JOHN B. WILLIS
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"Prints of Praise"
HARRIET BRADFORD
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The True Incentive
EDITH A. WATTS
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Testimony Meetings
JAMES B. MERRITT
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Principle and Precedent
LESTER DAVID EHMKE
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"Seek, and ye shall find"
FRANK L. HALLAM
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Our Course
WILLIAM A. LINTON
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Security
Frederick Dixon
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Spiritual Sense
Gustavus S. Paine
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The Way, the Truth, the Life
LOUISE ELAINE LUGRIN
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I have long delayed sending my testimony for publication...
Agnes Kenworthy
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Having been the recipient of so many blessings through...
Henry D. Sarge with contributions from Stella M. Sarge
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As a child my young daughter was subject to severe attacks...
Elizabeth Green Hansen with contributions from M. Lillian C. Noakes
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I have been interested in Christian Science for several...
Marguerite Taggart
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Something over ten years ago I went from Oregon to California...
Edward A. Ashman
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Several times I have attempted to write a testimony for...
Edna Deu Pree Nelson
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I am indeed grateful for all the blessings I have received...
Julia Louise Loomis
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I feel I ought to write a testimony of healing in gratitude...
Ernest L. Swenson with contributions from Ernest L. Swenson
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Signs of the Times
with contributions from Willard L. Sperry, Canon Barnes, Albert Dawson, J. Lewis Paton, Robert Leonard Tucker, J. G. Barry
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Notices
with contributions from Charles E. Jarvis