Science and Health, with Key to the Scriptures

by Mary Baker Eddy

The false and unjust beliefs of your human mental legis-
lators compel them to enact wicked laws of sickness and so
440:24 forth, and then render obedience to these laws punishable
as crime. In the presence of the Supreme Lawgiver, stand-
ing at the bar of Truth, and in accordance with the divine
440:27 statutes, I repudiate the false testimony of Personal. Sense.
I ask that he be forbidden to enter against Mortal Man
any more suits to be tried at the Court of Material Error.
440:30 I appeal to the just and equitable decisions of divine Spirit
to restore to Mortal Man the rights of which he has been
deprived.

Charge of the Chief Justice

440:33 Here the counsel for the defence closed, and the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, with benign and imposing
441:1 presence, comprehending and defining all law and evi-
dence, explained from his statute-book, the
441:3 Bible, that any so-called law, which under-
takes to punish aught but sin, is null and void.

He also decided that the plaintiff, Personal Sense, be
441:6 not permitted to enter any suits at the bar of Soul, but
be enjoined to keep perpetual silence, and in case of
temptation, to give heavy bonds for good behavior. He
441:9 concluded his charge thus: -

The plea of False Belief we deem unworthy of a hearing.
Let what False Belief utters, now and forever, fall into
441:12 oblivion, "unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown." Accord-
ing to our statute, Material Law is a liar who cannot bear
witness against Mortal Man, neither can Fear arrest Mortal
441:15 Man nor can Disease cast him into prison. Our law refuses
to recognize Man as sick or dying, but holds him to be for-
ever in the image and likeness of his Maker. Reversing the
441:18 testimony of Personal Sense and the decrees of the Court of
Error in favor of Matter, Spirit decides in favor of Man
and against Matter. We further recommend that Materia
441:21 Medica adopt Christian Science and that Health-laws,
Mesmerism, Hypnotism, Oriental Witchcraft, and Esoteric
Magic be publicly executed at the hands of our sheriff,
441:24 Progress.

The Supreme Bench decides in favor of intelligence, that
no law outside of divine Mind can punish or reward Mortal
441:27 Man. Your personal jurors in the Court of Error are
myths. Your attorney, False Belief, is an impostor, per-
suading Mortal Minds to return a verdict contrary to law
441:30 and gospel. The plaintiff, Personal Sense, is recorded in
our Book of books as a liar. Our great Teacher of mental
jurisprudence speaks of him also as "a murderer from the
441:33 beginning." We have no trials for sickness before the tri-
442:1 bunal of divine Spirit. There, Man is adjudged innocent
of transgressing physical laws, because there are no such
442:3 laws. Our statute is spiritual, our Government is divine.
"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

Divine verdict

The Jury of Spiritual Senses agreed at once upon a
442:6 verdict, and there resounded throughout the vast audience-
chamber of Spirit the cry, Not guilty. Then
the prisoner rose up regenerated, strong, free.
442:9 We noticed, as he shook hands with his counsel, Chris-
tian Science, that all sallowness and debility had dis-
appeared. His form was erect and commanding, his
442:12 countenance beaming with health and happiness. Divine
Love had cast out fear. Mortal Man, no longer sick
and in prison, walked forth, his feet "beautiful upon the
442:15 mountains," as of one "that bringeth good tidings."

Christ the great physician

Neither animal magnetism nor hypnotism enters into
the practice of Christian Science, in which truth cannot
442:18 be reversed, but the reverse of error is true.
An improved belief cannot retrograde. When
Christ changes a belief of sin or of sickness into
442:21 a better belief, then belief melts into spiritual understand-
ing, and sin, disease, and death disappear. Christ, Truth,
gives mortals temporary food and clothing until the ma-
442:24 terial, transformed with the ideal, disappears, and man
is clothed and fed spiritually. St. Paul says, "Work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling:" Jesus
442:27 said, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good
pleasure to give you the kingdom." This truth is
Christian Science.