Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1898).djvu/115

Rh mortal mind enlarges and strengthens them through its mandate, through its own demand for and supply of power. Not because of muscular exercise, but by reason of the blacksmith's faith in muscle, his arm becomes stronger.

Mortals develop their own bodies, and make them sick or well, accordingly as they move them, through

mind. To know whether this development is produced consciously or unconsciously, is of less importance than a knowledge of the fact. The feats of the gymnast prove that latent mental fears are subdued by him. The devotion of mortal mind to some achievement makes its accomplishment possible. Exceptions only confirm this rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble sense of power.

Had Blondin believed it impossible to walk a rope over Niagara's abyss of waters, he could never have done it. His belief that he could do it gave his thought-forces, called muscles, their flexibility and power, which the unscientific might attribute to a lubricating oil. His fear must disappear before his power of putting resolve into action could appear.

When Homer sang of the Grecian gods. Olympus was dark; but through his verse the gods became alive in a

nation's belief. Pagan worship began with muscularity, but the Law of Sinai lifted thought into the song of David. Moses advanced a nation to the worship of God in Mind instead of matter, and illustrated the grand human capacities of Being bestowed by immortal Mind.

Whosoever is incompetent to explain Soul had better not undertake the explanation of body. Life is, was,