Feeling the Effects of Christian Science

Oct 4th, 2023

From The Bible

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. ...

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
(Mark 5:21, 25–34)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
(John 6:63)

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. ¶ And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
(Acts 9:1–22)

¶ And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
(Acts 14:8–10)

¶ Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
(Acts 17:22–28)

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. ...

And you, being dead in your sins ... hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
(Colossians 2:6, 7, 13 (to sins), 13 hath)

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MARY BAKER EDDY


Paul was not at first a disciple of Jesus but a persecutor of Jesus’ followers. When the truth first appeared to him in Science, Paul was made blind, and his blindness was felt; but spiritual light soon enabled him to follow the example and teachings of Jesus, healing the sick and preaching Christianity throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even in imperial Rome.

Paul writes, “If Christ [Truth] be not risen, then is our preaching vain.” That is, if the idea of the supremacy of Spirit, which is the true conception of being, come not to your thought, you cannot be benefited by what I say. ...

In Colossians (iii. 4) Paul writes: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear [be manifested], then shall ye also appear [be manifested] with him in glory.” When spiritual being is understood in all its perfection, continuity, and might, then shall man be found in God’s image. The absolute meaning of the apostolic words is this: Then shall man be found, in His likeness, perfect as the Father, indestructible in Life, “hid with Christ in God,” — with Truth in divine Love, where human sense hath not seen man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 324:19–31; 325:10)

Spirit and its formations are the only realities of being. Matter disappears under the microscope of Spirit. Sin is unsustained by Truth, and sickness and death were overcome by Jesus, who proved them to be forms of error. Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 264:20)

The lines of demarcation between immortal man, representing Spirit, and mortal man, representing the error that life and intelligence are in matter, show the pleasures and pains of matter to be myths, and human belief in them to be the father of mythology, in which matter is represented as divided into intelligent gods. Man’s genuine selfhood is recognizable only in what is good and true. Man is neither self-made nor made by mortals. God created man.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 294:19)

As a man thinketh, so is he. Mind is all that feels, acts, or impedes action. Ignorant of this, or shrinking from its implied responsibility, the healing effort is made on the wrong side, and thus the conscious control over the body is lost.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 166:3)

Here let a word be noticed which will be better understood hereafter, — chemicalization. By chemicalization I mean the process which mortal mind and body undergo in the change of belief from a material to a spiritual basis.

Whenever an aggravation of symptoms has occurred through mental chemicalization, I have seen the mental signs, assuring me that danger was over, before the patient felt the change; and I have said to the patient, “You are healed,” — sometimes to his discomfiture, when he was incredulous. But it always came about as I had foretold.

I name these facts to show that disease has a mental, mortal origin, — that faith in rules of health or in drugs begets and fosters disease by attracting the mind to the subject of sickness, by exciting fear of disease, and by dosing the body in order to avoid it. The faith reposed in these things should find stronger supports and a higher home. If we understood the control of Mind over body, we should put no faith in material means.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 168:30–17)

Evidence drawn from the five physical senses relates solely to human reason; and because of opacity to the true light, human reason dimly reflects and feebly transmits Jesus’ works and words. Truth is a revelation.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 117:24)

Since the author’s discovery of the might of Truth in the treatment of disease as well as of sin, her system has been fully tested and has not been found wanting; ...
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. vii:27–2 (to ;))

I was called to visit Mr. Clark in Lynn, who had been confined to his bed six months with hip-disease, caused by a fall upon a wooden spike when quite a boy. On entering the house I met his physician, who said that the patient was dying. The physician had just probed the ulcer on the hip, and said the bone was carious for several inches. He even showed me the probe, which had on it the evidence of this condition of the bone. The doctor went out. Mr. Clark lay with his eyes fixed and sightless. The dew of death was on his brow. I went to his bedside. In a few moments his face changed; its death-pallor gave place to a natural hue. The eyelids closed gently and the breathing became natural; he was asleep. In about ten minutes he opened his eyes and said: “I feel like a new man. My suffering is all gone.” It was between three and four o’clock in the afternoon when this took place.

I told him to rise, dress himself, and take supper with his family. He did so. The next day I saw him in the yard. Since then I have not seen him, but am informed that he went to work in two weeks. The discharge from the sore stopped, and the sore was healed. The diseased condition had continued there ever since the injury was received in boyhood.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 192:32–23)

It is well to be calm in sickness; to be hopeful is still better; but to understand that sickness is not real and that Truth can destroy its seeming reality, is best of all, for this understanding is the universal and perfect remedy.

... Knowledge that we can accomplish the good we hope for, stimulates the system to act in the direction which Mind points out.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 393:32; 394:7–10)

When it is learned that disease cannot destroy life, and that mortals are not saved from sin or sickness by death, this understanding will quicken into newness of life. It will master either a desire to die or a dread of the grave, and thus destroy the great fear that besets mortal existence.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 426:16)

The infinite Truth of the Christ-cure has come to this age through a “still, small voice,” through silent utterances and divine anointing which quicken and increase the beneficial effects of Christianity.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 367:24–27)

The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the “still, small voice” of Truth uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 323:28–32)

Ages pass, but this leaven of Truth is ever at work. It must destroy the entire mass of error, and so be eternally glorified in man’s spiritual freedom.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 118:10)

... the world feels the alterative effect of truth through every pore.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 224:1 2nd the)

Christian science hymnals

Now sweeping down the years untold, / The day of Truth is breaking; / And sweet and fair the leaves unfold, / Of Love’s immortal waking.

For flower and fruitage now are seen, / Where blight and mildew rested: / The Christ today to us has been / By word and deed attested.

His living presence we have felt, / The Word made flesh among us: / And hearts of stone before him melt, / His peace is brooding o’er us.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 197)

Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound? / Felt ye the power of the Word? / ’Twas the Truth that made us free, / And was found by you and me / In the life and the love of our Lord.

Mourner, it calls you,—“Come to my bosom, / Love wipes your tears all away, / And will lift the shade of gloom, / And for you make radiant room / Midst the glories of one endless day.”

Sinner, it calls you,—“Come to this fountain, / Cleanse the foul senses within; / ’Tis the Spirit that makes pure, / That exalts thee, and will cure / All thy sorrow and sickness and sin.”

Strongest deliverer, friend of the friendless, / Life of all being divine: / Thou the Christ, and not the creed; / Thou the Truth in thought and deed; / Thou the water, the bread, and the wine.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 300)

Lean on the sustaining infinite / And blessings will be yours. / Lean not on person, place, or thing, / Or economic laws; / But lean upon all-blessing God / Who will all needs supply / And give to all abundant good / That money cannot buy.

Let the healing reign of Truth and Life, / The reign of Love divine, / Be now established within me / To show Soul’s clear design / Of Oneness, indivisible— / Of God and me as one— / As water is to ocean wave, / As sunbeam is to sun.

Love with a heart of tenderness / Your enemies and friends; / However hard this may appear, / This quality just mends. / For Love is God in action true, / A presence that is felt; / A healing and a saving power / That will all discord melt.

So lean, and let, and love; / This is the balanced Way. / It’s free from self-will, pressure, stress; / It welcomes in God’s day. / The leaning is so gentle; / The letting is so free. / And loving is the only way / To think, and speak, and be.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 519)