an Science.
Promiscuous mental treatment, without the consent or knowledge of the
individual treated, is an error of much magnitude. People unaware of the
indications of mental treatment, know not what is affecting them, and thus
may be robbed of their individual rights,--freedom of choice and
self-government. Who is willing to be subjected to such an influence? Ask
the unbridled mind-manipulator if he would consent to this; and if not,
then he is knowingly transgressing Christ's command. He who secretly
manipulates mind without the permission of man or God, is not dealing
justly and loving mercy, according to pure and undefiled religion.
Sinister and selfish motives entering into mental practice are dangerous
incentives; they proceed from false convictions and a fatal ignorance.
These are the tares growing side by side with the wheat, that must be
recognized, and uprooted, before the wheat can be garnered and Christian
Science demonstrated.
Secret mental efforts to obtain help from one who is unaware of this
attempt, demoralizes the person who does this, the same as other forms of
stealing, and will end in destroying health and morals.
In the practice of Christian Science one cannot impart a mental influence
that hazards another's happiness, nor interfere with the rights of the
individual. To disregard the welfare of others is contrary to the law of
God; therefore it deteriorates one's ability to do good, to benefit himself
and mankind.
The Psalmist vividly portrays the result of secret faults, presumptuous
sins, and self-deception, in these words: "How are they brought into
desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors."
PERSONALITY
The immortal man being spiritual, individual, and eternal, his mortal
opposite must be material, corporeal, and temporal. Physical personality is
finite; but God is infinite. He is without materiality, without finiteness
of form or Mind.
Limitations are put off in proportion as the fleshly nature disappears and
man is found in the reflection of Spirit.
This great fact leads into profound depths. The material human concept grew
beautifully less as I floated into more spiritual latitudes and purer
realms of thought.
From that hour personal corporeality became less to me than it is to people
who fail to appreciate individual character. I endeavored to lift thought
above physical personality, or selfhood in matter, to man's spiritual
individuali
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