Article July 7, 1923 Issue

Laws of Health

GEORGE I. WOOLLEY

The commonly accepted view is that health is dependent in large measure upon the observance of certain rules generally termed laws of health or of hygiene. As a consequence, most persons seem in bondage to a multitude of these so-called laws, most of which have nothing to do with righteousness. The individual who believes in these laws suffers constantly from fear. He thinks he must refrain from doing many things which he would like to do, and perhaps ought to do; or, having done some prohibited thing, such as sitting in a draft of air, for example, he thinks he must pay the penalty by having some form of disease.

Christian Scientists believe not at all in such material laws of health; and they are able, in proportion to their understanding of Truth, to rise step by step above the necessity of giving them consideration in practice. It must not be supposed, however, that Christian Scientists do not have laws of health. They have two great laws. When the lawyer stood up and tempted Jesus, asking him, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said, "What is written in the law? how readest thou?" To this the lawyer answered, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." And Jesus replied, "Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."

Did Jesus mean that one who obeyed these commands would live after death in some state of mental peace and happiness, or did he mean that such obedience would secure not only joy and peace here and now, but health as well? His own human life and his works give the answer. All will readily admit that he, more than any other, expressed that love for God and his neighbor which, he said, would insure eternal life. In the Biblical records of his experiences we have no mention of his ever having been ill. Apparently he always had perfect health. The only occasions prior to the crucifixion when he seems to have experienced any sense of physical inharmony were in the wilderness, when he was "an hungred," and on one of his journeys from Judea into Galilee, when he came to the city of Sychar in Samaria, as related in the fourth chapter of John's gospel.

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