Page:The Origin of Christian Science.djvu/189

Rh be knowledge at all, is the knowledge of “mortal mind.” Whether it be real or not Mrs. Eddy recognizes it as being what it may be and so deals with it. In the same manner we will deal with it. The Neoplatonists explain inferior kinds of knowledge as belonging to the soul, which they arranged below mind, as arising on account of the soul's passivity to matter. Notwithstanding this difference between Mrs. Eddy and the Neoplatonists, she follows them in classifying and disposing of these examples of inferior knowledge. This is not strange, since Spinoza, who also did not recognize the hypostasis of soul, followed the Neoplatonists here also.

As “immortal Mind” thinks eternally or as all its ideas are eternal, the idea of time must be in mortal mind. Mrs. Eddy defines time thus: “Mortal measurements; limits, in which are summed up all human acts, thoughts, beliefs, opinions, knowledge; matter; error; that which begins before, and continues after, what is termed death, until the mortal disappears and spiritual perfection appears.” She says: “Time is a mortal thought.” Bear in mind that Mrs. Eddy considers that time is a sphere of limitation in which imperfect mental acts take place and that it ceases before we enter into perfection or eternity. She does not consider that time is any part of eternity as we have before shown. Imperfect