“From the prevailing bodily consciousness which giveth man the feeling that he must perish. He is therefore filled with thoughts, fears, and beliefs of ill which bring forth a universal fruitage of their own kind. Man therefore bows himself in servitude to these, his own creations, and ignorantly thinketh that they are sent by God.”
“How are they to be put away?”
“By thinking upon the things that pertain to the spiritual selfhood, and consciously ruling and harmonizing the bodily instrument. The body is a living epistle, setting forth the quality of the life, mind, and soul, of which it is the visible result and correspondence. It is the spoken word of the thought of man!”
“Wilt thou interpret to us a miracle?” said Rebecca, who had followed every word of the conversation with great interest.
“A miracle is a name which men give to any unwonted demonstration of power which is above and [pg 392]beyond their common understanding. Miracles may be wrought as signs of spiritual verity, or exercised in works of love and mercy.”
“Do they require the special and direct intervention of the one and supreme God of all the earth?” inquired Marcius.
“Nay; but rather an intelligent conformity to his wise and unchanging laws, only the lower domain of which is commonly understood.”
“We believe that thou canst perform works which to the eyes of the world would seem miraculous!” said Marcius with fulness of heart.
Rebecca’s eyes were moist with emotion, and her features lighted up with grateful interest as she added,—
“I am persuaded that Serenus and Amabel can do wonderful works! Of a surety many weeks would have passed before my perfect healing had not their ministry blessed me.”