Part 4 (2/2)

28:3 mission. Even many of his students stood in his way. If the Master had not taken a student and taught the unseen verities of G.o.d, he would 28:6 not have been crucified. The determination to hold Spirit in the grasp of matter is the persecutor of Truth and Love.

28:9 While respecting all that is good in the Church or out of it, one's consecration to Christ is more on the ground of demonstration than of profession. In conscience, we 28:12 cannot hold to beliefs outgrown; and by understanding more of the divine Principle of the deathless Christ, we are enabled to heal the sick and to triumph over sin.

Misleading conceptions

28:15 Neither the origin, the character, nor the work of Jesus was generally understood. Not a single compo- nent part of his nature did the material 28:18 world measure aright. Even his righteous- less and purity did not hinder men from saying: He is a glutton and a friend of the impure, and Beelzebub is 28:21 his patron.

Persecution prolonged

Remember, thou Christian martyr, it is enough if thou art found worthy to unloose the sandals of thy 28:24 Master's feet! To suppose that persecution for righteousness' sake belongs to the past, and that Christianity to-day is at peace with the world 28:27 because it is honored by sects and societies, is to mis- take the very nature of religion. Error repeats itself.

The trials encountered by prophet, disciple, and apostle, 28:30 ”of whom the world was not worthy,” await, in some form, every pioneer of truth.

Christian warfare

There is too much animal courage in society and not 29:1 sufficient moral courage. Christians must take up arms against error at home and abroad. They must grapple 29:3 with sin in themselves and in others, and continue this warfare until they have finished their course. If they keep the faith, they will have the 29:6 crown of rejoicing.

Christian experience teaches faith in the right and dis- belief in the wrong. It bids us work the more earnestly 29:9 in times of persecution, because then our labor is more needed. Great is the reward of self-sacrifice, though we may never receive it in this world.

The Fatherhood of G.o.d

29:12 There is a tradition that Publius Lentulus wrote to the authorities at Rome: ”The disciples of Jesus be- lieve him the Son of G.o.d.” Those instructed 29:15 in Christian Science have reached the glori- ous perception that G.o.d is the only author of man.

The Virgin-mother conceived this idea of G.o.d, and 29:18 gave to her ideal the name of Jesus - that is, Joshua, or Saviour.

Spiritual conception

The illumination of Mary's spiritual sense put to 29:21 silence material law and its order of generation, and brought forth her child by the revelation of Truth, demonstrating G.o.d as the Father of 29:24 men. The Holy Ghost, or divine Spirit, overshadowed the pure sense of the Virgin-mother with the full recog- nition that being is Spirit. The Christ dwelt forever 29:27 an idea in the bosom of G.o.d, the divine Principle of the man Jesus, and woman perceived this spiritual idea, though at first faintly developed.

29:30 Man as the offspring of G.o.d, as the idea of Spirit, is the immortal evidence that Spirit is harmonious and man eternal. Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self- 30:1 conscious communion with G.o.d. Hence he could give a more spiritual idea of life than other men, and could 30:3 demonstrate the Science of Love - his Father or divine Principle.

Jesus the way-shower

Born of a woman, Jesus' advent in the flesh partook 30:6 partly of Mary's earthly condition, although he was en- dowed with the Christ, the divine Spirit, with- out measure. This accounts for his struggles 30:9 in Gethsemane and on Calvary, and this enabled him to be the mediator, or _way-shower_, between G.o.d and men.

Had his origin and birth been wholly apart from mortal 30:12 usage, Jesus would not have been appreciable to mortal mind as ”the way.”

Rabbi and priest taught the Mosaic law, which said: 30:15 ”An eye for an eye,” and ”Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Not so did Jesus, the new executor for G.o.d, present the divine law of Love, 30:18 which blesses even those that curse it.

Rebukes helpful

As the individual ideal of Truth, Christ Jesus came to rebuke rabbinical error and all sin, sickness, and death,- 30:21 to point out the way of Truth and Life. This ideal was demonstrated throughout the whole earthly career of Jesus, showing the difference between 30:24 the offspring of Soul and of material sense, of Truth and of error.

If we have triumphed sufficiently over the errors of 30:27 material sense to allow Soul to hold the control, we shall loathe sin and rebuke it under every mask. Only in this way can we bless our enemies, though they 30:30 may not so construe our words. We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught. In meekness and might, he was found 31:1 preaching the gospel to the poor. Pride and fear are unfit to bear the standard of Truth, and G.o.d will never place 31:3 it in such hands.

Fleshly ties temporal

Jesus acknowledged no ties of the flesh. He said: ”Call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, 31:6 which is in heaven.” Again he asked: ”Who is my mother, and who are my brethren,” im- plying that it is they who do the will of his Father. We 31:9 have no record of his calling any man by the name of _father_. He recognized Spirit, G.o.d, as the only creator, and therefore as the Father of all.

Healing primary

31:12 First in the list of Christian duties, he taught his fol- lowers the healing power of Truth and Love. He attached no importance to dead ceremonies. It is the 31:15 living Christ, the practical Truth, which makes Jesus ”the resurrection and the life” to all who follow him in deed. Obeying his precious precepts, - following his 31:18 demonstration so far as we apprehend it, - we drink of his cup, partake of his bread, are baptized with his pu- rity; and at last we shall rest, sit down with him, in a full 31:21 understanding of the divine Principle which triumphs over death. For what says Paul? ”As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's 31:24 death till he come.”

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