Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.djvu/376

364 jury returns a verdict of “Guilty of liver-complaint in the first degree.”

Judge Medicine then proceeds to pronounce the solemn sentence of death upon the patient. By loving his neighbor as himself, Mortal Man was guilty of benevolence in the first degree; and this has led him into the commission of the second crime, liver-complaint, which material laws regard as homicide. For this crime Mortal Man is sentenced to the torture until he is dead. “May God have mercy on his Soul,” is the Judge's solemn peroration.

The prisoner is then remanded to his cell (sick-bed), and Theology sent for to prepare the frightened sense of Life, or God, — which must be immortal, — for death, the Body having no longer any friends.

Ah! but Christ, Truth, the friend of Mortal Man, can open wide those prison-doors, and set the captive free. Swift on the wings of Love there comes a despatch: “Delay the execution; the prisoner is not guilty.” Consternation fills the prison-yard. Some exclaim, “It is contrary to law and order.” Others say, “Christ supersedes our laws; let us follow him.”

After much debate and opposition, permission is obtained for a trial in the Court of Spirit, where Science is allowed to appear as counsel for the unfortunate prisoner. Witnesses, judges, and jurors, who were at the previous Material Court of Common Errors, are now summoned to appear at the bar of Truth.

When the case for Mortal Man versus Matter is opened, his counsel regards the prisoner with the utmost tenderness. The earnest eyes, kindling with hope and triumph, are uplifted for a single moment. Then Science turns