Description
In this book are five hundred forms of animal magnetism that the astute Christian Scientist should recognize and handle. This thought provoking book alerts one to subtle mesmeric influence that would otherwise go unnoticed and unhandled. It includes many statements from Mrs. Eddy to her students.
In his introduction, Mr. Carpenter states: “Students who lived in our Leader’s home testify that no phase of human experience was so insignificant that it did not require them to apply to it the rules of God.” He goes on to say that he “intends these watching points to constitute a timely hint to his students, to broaden their demonstration of Christian Science as Mrs. Eddy set the example in her home,” especially in regard to “any suggestion of mesmerism that would claim to becloud their comprehension of the deeper meanings of the Bible and Science and Health.”
Among the Watches are the following: “WATCH lest you become a pillar of salt, in that you do not promptly and rightly complete each demonstration. No demonstration is finished if you look back to see the destruction of the error, since looking back carries the implication that, although the unreality of the error is now being demonstrated, it was once real.
“Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy tells us, is divine Science reduced to human apprehension. The former carries the admission of a human problem, while the latter does not. No demonstration is finished until you retreat into divine Science and realize that no error ever existed, or even claimed to exist; hence there was nothing to be destroyed.
“The pillar of salt in the case of Lot’s wife might have represented the unfruitfulness following the fact that she looked back to effect, when all attention should be given to cause. Instead of clinging to Christian Science, one should be rising to divine Science.
“Mrs. Eddy once wrote to a student, ‘Now dear, a dream is not real! You have not been sick and cannot be sick. It is impossible, so I shall not worry. No mortal, however malicious, can make a lie true, and if they tell you that you are poisoned, it has no effect whatever, for a lie is not real, and you know this.’”
“WATCH lest you become discouraged in your general mental work for humanity, because the results of your work do not appear at once. You should know that, in spite of the fact that at present you may see no results, every bit of scientific work you do is effectual, because it is the very power of God expressed, and it knows no limits.”
“WATCH lest the quickening within yourself concerning animal magnetism, which comes with spiritual progress, be interpreted as an increase in its power, activity and subtlety, instead of the uncovering in your own thought of a latent fear of it, or belief in it. Error cannot be handled rightly and destroyed until one has traced all effect back to cause, and recognized that, although the mesmerism comes from outside, the yielding to it lies within your own thinking.