Article July 9, 1921 Issue

The Prophylactics of Christian Science

ROSE TITZE

In medical schools one often hears the saying: "Prevention is better than cure," and many preventive material remedies are being invented and used against certain disease germs. The student of Christian Science, even if he has gained but a glimmer of this wonderful spiritual religion knows that he has not to fear germs. On page 392 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says, "Stand porter at the door of thought." This is a prophylactic activity which if practiced will benefit mankind. At any time of an epidemic a Christian Scientist does not use the preventives invented by material medicine against the disease. He knows that it is fear which produces the disease. If we are able to overcome it we shall be master over any kind of error that presents itself. But how can we gain dominion over fear? "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit" (Science and Health, p. 495). If we carefully study and practice Christian Science we have at hand a preventive and a remedy for all diseases.

If one has what he calls a good memory, however, and it is easy for him to memorize much of the letter, he must be on guard lest he become a mere paraphraser, and his religion become a religion of the intellect. "It is the spirit that quickeneth," and without the spirit fluent words are valueless. All preventive and healing effect of the truth in the Bible rests before all on a clear recognition of what Principle is, and an understanding of true being. All the misery of mankind, disease, sorrow, misfortune, hatred, jealousy, injustice, dissipation, are but expressions of ignorance of God and true being. As we gain an understanding of the true nature of God as infinite Mind, those obstacles and limitations which may have seemed to aggregate and to have separated us from hope will be seen for what they are—nothingness. Real freedom from these errors, in other words, knowledge of Principle, signifies happiness. Thus we see that it is in our power to prevent error of every sort. Does this sound presumptuous? It is not. God is divine, infinite Principle, Love, and man, as His likeness, must reflect His love. Can divine Love be afraid? Does Love boast to be itself? Can Love ever mean anything else than Love?

The mortal mind limits itself through its so-called laws to which it bows down. True understanding of Principle makes man free and enables him to prove his dominion over the manifold beliefs of mortal mind, such as faith in material medicine, health theories, or belief in physical culture. Instead of all this he learns to trust in God, who is Love, infinite Mind, and humbly and confidently consecrate himself to Him. Abiding in this consciousness, it becomes easy for a man to protect himself against all error. The cares of his daily life drop from him if he obeys the Scriptural admonition to cast all care upon God. He ceases to look around fearfully or to worry about those he calls his relatives. Lack of success in business will not discourage him when he begins to correct error for himself and thus prevent error metaphysically. He knows that a seemingly discouraging condition is unreal, that what physical sight tells him vanishes before the liberating truth taught by Christ Jesus. It is our privilege and duty to guard our thought against the false belief which would even temporarily separate us from God. We must constantly strive and turn from the material to the spiritual, and so the error comes to the surface and we rejoice in the opportunity to prove that in the presence of infinite Love evil is nothingness. Thus our burdens are lifted from us through this prophylactic and healing message of our Father-Mother God.

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Right-Wiseness
July 9, 1921
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