Adherence to righteousness
If the student adheres strictly to the teachings of Chris-
448:27 tian Science and ventures not to break its rules, he can-
not fail of success in healing. It is Christian
Science to do right, and nothing short of right-
448:30 doing has any claim to the name. To talk the right and
live the wrong is foolish deceit, doing one's self the most
harm. Fettered by sin yourself, it is difficult to free
449:1 another from the fetters of disease. With your own wrists
manacled, it is hard to break another's chains. A little
449:3 leaven causes the whole mass to ferment. A grain of
Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnip-
otent is Truth, but more of Christian Science must be
449:6 gained in order to continue in well doing.
Right adjusts the balance
The wrong done another reacts most heavily against
one's self. Right adjusts the balance sooner or later.
449:9 Think it "easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle," than for you to benefit
yourself by injuring others. Man's moral mercury, ris-
449:12 ing or falling, registers his healing ability and fitness to
teach. You should practise well what you know, and
you will then advance in proportion to your honesty
449:15 and fidelity, - qualities which insure success in this
Science; but it requires a higher understanding to teach
this subject properly and correctly than it does to heal
449:18 the most difficult case.
Inoculation of thought
The baneful effect of evil associates is less seen than
felt. The inoculation of evil human thoughts ought to
449:21 be understood and guarded against. The
first impression, made on a mind which is
attracted or repelled according to personal merit or de-
449:24 merit, is a good detective of individual character. Cer-
tain minds meet only to separate through simultaneous
repulsion. They are enemies without the preliminary
449:27 offence. The impure are at peace with the impure.
Only virtue is a rebuke to vice. A proper teacher of Chris-
tian Science improves the health and the morals of his
449:30 student if the student practises what he is taught, and
unless this result follows, the teacher is a Scientist only
in name.
Three classes of neophytes
450:1 There is a large class of thinkers whose bigotry and
conceit twist every fact to suit themselves. Their creed
450:3 teaches belief in a mysterious, supernatural
God, and in a natural, all-powerful devil. An-
other class, still more unfortunate, are so depraved that
450:6 they appear to be innocent. They utter a falsehood,
while looking you blandly in the face, and they never
fail to stab their benefactor in the back. A third class
450:9 of thinkers build with solid masonry. They are sincere,
generous, noble, and are therefore open to the approach
and recognition of Truth. To teach Christian Science
450:12 to such as these is no task. They do not incline long-
ingly to error, whine over the demands of Truth, nor
play the traitor for place and power.
Touchstone of Science
450:15 Some people yield slowly to the touch of Truth. Few
yield without a struggle, and many are reluctant to ac-
knowledge that they have yielded; but un-
450:18 less this admission is made, evil will boast
itself above good. The Christian Scientist has enlisted
to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome
450:21 them by understanding their nothingness and the allness
of God, or good. Sickness to him is no less a temptation
than is sin, and he heals them both by understanding
450:24 God's power over them. The Christian Scientist knows
that they are errors of belief, which Truth can and will
destroy.