Page:The Life of Mary Baker G. Eddy.djvu/245

Rh them to "get rid of your beliefs as fast as possible."

In treating a patient, who is under the delusion of sickness, there is a stated method. It must first be thoroughly understood that his disease has its origin in the mind. His body may seem to suffer because it is at the mercy of his mind, and as long as his mind retains "a mental image" of toothache, cancer, tuberculosis, fever, dyspepsia, or any form of bodily discomfort, his body will respond and will seem to develop the particular belief of sickness that is in his mind. The object, then, is to abolish the mental picture of disease. The Christian Science healer "in case of decaying lungs, destroys in the mind of his patient this belief, and the Truth of being and immortality of man assert themselves . . . and the lungs become sound and regain their original proportions." The belief in the mind of the patient is not always easily destroyed, but the healer must be patient. "When healing the sick," said Mrs. Glover, "make your mental plea, or better, take your spiritual position that heals, silently at first, until you begin to win the case, and Truth is getting the better of error." That is, while the patient is lying before you, convulsed with pain, you must retreat within yourself and fight out the disease in a mental argument with error, contending that there is no pain and that the patient is deluded. This course, faithfully pursued, according to Science and Health, will result in an overwhelming conviction that the patient is not held in the throes of error, and the disease will begin to subside. "Then your patient is fit to listen," said Mrs. Glover, "and you can say to him, 'Thou art whole,' without his scorn." She advised the healer to "explain to him audibly, sometimes, the power mind has