The Monticellonian., 1916-06-08

duce the flesh, influences the cells'
etc. The maiden's cheek is sunuseo
with a blush, the pulses bound WIN
joy, the cheek pales with fear. or the
heart may stop its pulsations allo-
gether All our bodily functions are
similarly affected by our thinking.
Our nostrils are dilated, we breathe
more rapidly or more slowly, our legs
weaken and tremble or become more
elastic or energetic, our perspiratloh
becomes more profuse or perceptibly
diminishes, the voice becomes low and
nearly inaudible, or assumes unusual
loudness and vigor. the stomach
seems to crave some remembered
food, or rebels against food, and may
even reject it. and so on to a greater
extent and degree than many of US
have ever thought about, all as the
effects of the mind over the body.
Solomon epitomiZed universal human
experience 1000 years ago when he
said that as man "thinketh in his
heart, so is he" Right thinking helps
us physically, and wrong thinking
harms US Paul truly wrote: ITO be
carnally minded is death but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace"
Now let us take another step How
can we most effectually free our con-
seriousness from the thoughts which
are false and harmful, and how can
we most effectually uplife and ener-
gize the thoughts which benefit us?
Here again We find the answer applies
to both sin and sickness alike-just
as Jesus taught and exemplified 1t
is the selfsame process for sin and
sickness. What we need to do, then,
is to bring our thoughts and con
seriousness into closer communion
with God. And the way to that has
been pointed out to us by the example
of Jesus and in the words of the New
Testament SO plainly that we need
make no mistake.
However, before considering the
plain way | have just referred to for
getting into closer communion with
God, let me ask the question, strange
as it may sound to your ears,-Is it
really safe and wise If you are sick
to seek a closer communion with God?
Suppose you believe the old pagan
dogma of the Greeks and Romans
which they brought with them into
Christianity, that sickness and death
are not of human, but of divine origin
Or, suppose you believe the modern
theological statement, which is the
same in its meaning, that sickness
and death are mysterious dispense
lions of divine Providence" Then it
would be safer for you, would it not,
to keep as far away as you can from
the deifc power which deals out to
mankind sickness. sufferngs, and
death? Is it any wonder that with
such a conception of God the sick
could no longer be healed, during
about 10 centuries, according to the
way demonstrated and promised by
Jesus to his followers?
Now what is the way pointed out
to us for getting into closer commu-
MON with divine truth. in order that
the truth shall make us free? There
is only one way pointed out to us in
the Bible. and this way is the only
way approved by human experience.
This only way is true prayer We need
to pray to the true God, and not with
the concept Of some death-dealing pa
gan deity in our consciousness.
The office of true prayer is not to
change and better God, or Gods ways.
That cannot be done, for God is eter-
nal and immutable The Office of true
prayer is to change and better man.
That can be done. Prayer is not a
physical. but mental attitude
When we pray Alright to the only true
God we are communing in our thought
and consciousness with the truths
which belong to mans relations with
God and with the laws of God which
unchangingly govern man. In such
communion with the truths of mans
being we assimilate the truth which
makes US free" as Jesus promised
and proved-free from sin and sick.
ness which are entertained in human
consciousness when such conscious
ness has become separated and apart
from the consciousness of truth. Thus
comes the experience, as Paul de.
scribed, that Ito be spiritually mind,
ed is life and peace"
Thus our good thoughts which con.
duce to physical as well as moral
well-being become our very best
thoughts. In all true prayer to the
true God our thoughts, aspirations.
hopes, ideals, incentives are uplifted
to the purest heights they are capable
of attaining. And right here is the
explanation of the fact which is con.
stantly mentioned and gratefully COM
mented upon by those who are healed
of physical sickness through the agen.
cy OF Christian Science, namely, that
they are benefited morally and spir.
itually as well as physically And
here is likewise the explanation of the
fact that sin and sickness, as Jesus
and his early followers proved, and
as Christian Science is proving, are
overcome through the same process.
One of the immediate apostles OF
Jesus said: The prayer of faith shall
save the sick" These words point
out to us the means or process where
by the divine truth-cure which Jesus
taught is accomplished However, we
are frequently admonished not to pray
amiss. 1t is when we pray Alright that
we realize the promise of our Galile.
an brother and Wayshower. ASK