Page:The Origin of Christian Science.djvu/196

188 source of belief and that belief arises from the material senses, Mrs. Eddy still thinks there is some good in it.

While the subject of Mrs. Eddy's psychological inconsistencies is before us we notice briefly a very notable one. Mrs. Eddy holds that the evidence of the senses is the very opposite of the truth, and yet she relies on the evidential value that comes from the healing of physical diseases. Mrs. Eddy says: “Science reverses the false testimony of the physical senses, and by this reversal mortals arrive at the fundamental facts of being;” “This great fact is not, however, seen to be supported by sensible evidence, until its divine Principle is demonstrated by healing the sick and thus proved absolute;” “After a lengthy examination of my discovery and its demonstration in healing the sick, this fact became evident to me,—that Mind governs the body, not partially but wholly. I submitted my metaphysical system of treating disease to the broadest practical tests.” The “demonstration” and the “tests” are valuable only as they reach the judgment through the senses. She speaks of a thing being “proved to the physical senses.” I am not able to decide whether Mrs. Eddy did not see this inconsistency or whether she concluded that her disciples would