Article May 13, 1950 Issue

PREPARATION AND PREVENTION

ARTHUR FREEMAN

Mary Baker Eddy's statement in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 234), "You must control evil thoughts in the first instance, or they will control you in the second," would indicate that the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," applies emphatically to the demonstration of Christian Science. The control of evil thoughts which dismisses them at the very first moment of their appearance makes it unnecessary to handle the problems which such evil thoughts would appear to generate. Of course, it has been demonstrated through the years that Christian Science treatment applied to any evil condition, however serious it may seem to be, results in satisfying cures.

There is a universal belief that errors usually grow from small beginnings. It is the little foxes that spoil the vines, says the Scripture. And we all know that a slight spark often sets off a conflagration which only heroic efforts can check. Prompt dismissal and intelligent reversal of an evil suggestion at the very outset will invariably prevent an untoward result.

In his Sermon on the Mount our great Master cites this warning (Matt. 5:25): "Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison." And in agreement with this admonition Mrs. Eddy writes as follows (Science and Health, p. 390): "Suffer no claim of sin or of sickness to grow upon the thought. Dismiss it with an abiding conviction that it is illegitimate, because you know that God is no more the author of sickness than He is of sin."

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