|
- 199 -
of action, and if muscles, without volition of mortal
mind, could lift the hammer and strike the anvil, it
might be thought true that hammering would enlarge
the muscles. The trip-hammer is not increased in size
by exercise. Why not, since muscles are as material as
wood and iron? Because nobody believes that mind is
producing such a result on the hammer.
Muscles are not self-acting. If mind does not move
them, they are motionless. Hence the great fact that
Mind alone enlarges and empowers man through its
mandate, - by reason of its demand for and supply of
power. Not because of muscular exercise, but by reason
of the blacksmith's faith in exercise, his arm becomes
stronger.
(Latent fear subdued)
Mortals develop their own bodies or make them sick,
according as they influence them through mortal 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 thought to an honest achievement makes
the achievement possible. Exceptions only confirm this
rule, proving that failure is occasioned by a too feeble
faith.
Had Blondin believed it impossible to walk the 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 have disappeared before his power of putting
resolve into action could appear.
(Homer and Moses)
When Homer sang of the Grecian gods, Olympus was
|
