Part 29 (2/2)
A mortal not man
Whoever is incompetent to explain Soul would be wise 200:9 not to undertake the explanation of body. Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for life is G.o.d, and man is the idea 200:12 of G.o.d, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust. The Psalmist said: ”Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy 200:15 hands. Thou hast put all things under his feet.”
The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; 200:18 for if man is the image, reflection, of G.o.d, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and G.o.dlike.
The suppositional antipode of divine infinite Spirit 200:21 is the so-called human soul or spirit, in other words the five senses, - the flesh that warreth against Spirit.
These so called material senses must yield to the infinite 200:24 Spirit, named G.o.d.
St. Paul said: ”For I determined not to know any- thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”
200:27 (I Cor. ii. 2.) Christian Science says: I am determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him glorified.
CHAPTER VIII - FOOTSTEPS OF TRUTH
Remember, Lord, the reproach of Thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; wherewith Thine enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of Thine anointed. - PSALMS.
Practical preaching
201:1 THE best sermon ever preached is Truth practised and demonstrated by the destruction of sin, sickness, 201:3 and death. Knowing this and knowing too that one affection would be supreme in us and take the lead in our lives, Jesus said, ”No man can serve 201:6 two masters.”
We cannot build safely on false foundations. Truth makes a new creature, in whom old things pa.s.s away 201:9 and ”all things are become new.” Pa.s.sions, selfishness, false appet.i.tes, hatred, fear, all sensuality, yield to spirit- uality, and the superabundance of being is on the side 201:12 of G.o.d, good.
The uses of truth
We cannot fill vessels already full. They must first be emptied. Let us disrobe error. Then, when 201:15 the winds of G.o.d blow, we shall not hug our tatters close about us.
The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour 201:18 in truth through flood-tides of Love. Christian perfec- tion is won on no other basis.
Grafting holiness upon unholiness, supposing that sin 202:1 can be forgiven when it is not forsaken, is as foolish as straining out gnats and swallowing camels.
202:3 The scientific unity which exists between G.o.d and man must be wrought out in life-practice, and G.o.d's will must be universally done.
Divine study
202:6 If men would bring to bear upon the study of the Science of Mind half the faith they bestow upon the so- called pains and pleasures of material sense, 202:9 they would not go on from bad to worse, until disciplined by the prison and the scaffold; but the whole human family would be redeemed through 202:12 the merits of Christ, - through the perception and ac- ceptance of Truth. For this glorious result Christian Science lights the torch of spiritual understanding.
Harmonious life-work
202:15 Outside of this Science all is mutable; but immortal man, in accord with the divine Principle of His being, G.o.d, neither sins, suffers, nor dies. The days 202:18 of our pilgrimage will multiply instead of di- minish, when G.o.d's kingdom comes on earth; for the true way leads to life instead of to death, and earthly 202:21 experience discloses the finity of error and the infinite capacities of Truth, in which G.o.d gives man dominion over all the earth.
Belief and practice
202:24 Our beliefs about a Supreme Being contradict the practice growing out of them. Error abounds where Truth should ”much more abound.” We
202:27 admit that G.o.d has almighty power, is ”a very present help in trouble;” and yet we rely on a drug or hypnotism to heal disease, as if senseless matter or err- 202:30 ing mortal mind had more power than omnipotent Spirit.
Sure reward of righteousness
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