Knowing the character of a man one can usually predict what he will do. The courageous man will rise above whelming fear, the courteous man will be polite regardless of insult, the merciful man will show favor, and the kind man will be generous. The ill doer is also true to type; hence the Scripture, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still;" but herein also the other fact is recognized, because it is further said, "He that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still," and the continuation of the passage is interesting: "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." This expectation brings comfort to all who are willing to say of Mind, "How I love thy law."

We are aware, then, of right activity in the world, and we can observe wrong actions also; that is, we see men engaged in manly practice, or else in malpractice, concerning which Mrs. Eddy declares in "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 9): "The basis of malpractice is in erring human will, and this will is an outcome of what I call mortal mind,—a false and temporal sense of Truth, Life, and Love. To heal, in Christian Science, is to base your practice on immortal Mind, the divine Principle of man's being; and this requires a preparation of the heart and an answer of the lips from the Lord."

One may say of the malpractitioner that he loses his individuality in trying to be some one other than himself, or else in trying to persuade others to become subordinate to his own changing mortal self. He wants to be a power in the world and conform human beings to his will, hence tries to project himself into spheres where he has no right to enter. When he interferes with others he causes discord continually; he will not enter into peace himself, yet hinders those who are trying to find the way to harmony. In short, he acts like the operators of Jesus' day of whom the Master said, "They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

Let each man examine himself as to the law he makes for himself. Some one who in a critical spirit attended public worship in a church, found fault with the caretaker, criticized the singing and the service, the readers and the soloist and the ushers; and on complaining to another of being wearied and vexed received this gentle and friendly rebuke: Think how many different persons you have tried to be; you can only be happy in finding yourself as a child of God. Causeless criticism is often unwitting malpractice.

But there are those who malpractice wittingly, criminals who think themselves unseen, claiming to project a hidden influence by means of hypnotism into other lives. Is not this the unseen sin behind all cruelty and tyranny, all seduction and betrayal, behind every attempt to control and exploit mankind through fear? It is a human will, the reversal of divine benevolence, claiming to be as a god ruling the world. Concerning right protection from this Mrs. Eddy calmly says (Science and Health, p. 442), "Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake." Of the righteous man it is said, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings;" of the wise man it is written that he "shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil."

The Leader of the Christian Science movement has not left her followers without complete guidance as to the way in which the student can find himself and dwell protected from both malpractice and malpractitioner. Here is no warfare such as is legendary, whereby one rushes out to contest with an enemy, giving and receiving wounds; nor is it besiegement either, where one finds hostile invaders encircle his dwelling place, cutting off aid and comfort from him. In this warfare what happens is within. No weapons of offense, no munitions for defense are needed. Protection is from Mind, unfolding the safeguard of law. Victorious practice is not contest but obedience to one Mind. Thereby the lawful thinker knows how "less than nothing, and vanity" is any claim to power in lawless thinking or animal cerebration, and how irresistible is metaphysical healing. In the chapter entitled "Church and School" in her "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 315) Mrs. Eddy with great clearness set forth the way in which this protection through Mind shall be explained by teachers: "They shall teach their students how to defend themselves against mental malpractice, but never to return evil for evil; never to attack the malpractitioner, but to know the truth that makes free,—and so to be a law not unto others, but themselves."

This brings safety down to very simple terms. It reminds us of the words of Christ Jesus when he taught his disciples that the kingdom of heaven would not come with outward show,—"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Does not this kingdom protect itself from the invasion of evil just as a beam of light protects itself by making it true that wherever it extends you can find no darkness? Is the Christian Scientist, then, as light in the world? Even so. Furthermore, as John says, "God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Can Mind, God, fear a malpractitioner? Of course not. Can those to whom Mind is law believe that there is any potence in evil minds? That, too, would be absurd. The obeyers of law are a law to themselves whereby hate and fear are abolished. Love is within, and hence "without are ... sorcerers ... and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." Let every one, then, enjoy the blessedness of the man "that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."

William P. McKenzie.