Part 47 (2/2)

Fear of the serpent overcome

321:6 The Hebrew Lawgiver, slow of speech, despaired of making the people understand what should be revealed to him. When, led by wisdom to cast down his 321:9 rod, he saw it become a serpent, Moses fled be- fore it; but wisdom bade him come back and handle the serpent, and then Moses' fear departed. In 321:12 this incident was seen the actuality of Science. Matter was shown to be a belief only. The serpent, evil, under wisdom's bidding, was destroyed through understanding 321:15 divine Science, and this proof was a staff upon which to lean. The illusion of Moses lost its power to alarm him, when he discovered that what he apparently saw was really 321:18 but a phase of mortal belief.

Leprosy healed

It was scientifically demonstrated that leprosy was a creation of mortal mind and not a condition of matter, 321:21 when Moses first put his hand into his bosom and drew it forth white as snow with the dread disease, and presently restored his hand to its natural con- 321:24 dition by the same simple process. G.o.d had lessened Moses' fear by this proof in divine Science, and the in- ward voice became to him the voice of G.o.d, which said: 321:27 ”It shall come to pa.s.s, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign.” And so it was in the coming 321:30 centuries, when the Science of being was demonstrated by Jesus, who showed his students the power of Mind by changing water into wine, and taught them how to handle 322:1 serpents unharmed, to heal the sick and cast out evils in proof of the supremacy of Mind.

Standpoints changed

322:3 When understanding changes the standpoints of life and intelligence from a material to a spiritual basis, we shall gain the reality of Life, the control of Soul over 322:6 sense, and we shall perceive Christianity, or Truth, in its divine Principle. This must be the climax before harmonious and immortal man is obtained and his 322:9 capabilities revealed. It is highly important - in view of the immense work to be accomplished before this recog- nition of divine Science can come - to turn our thoughts 322:12 towards divine Principle, that finite belief may be pre- pared to relinquish its error.

Saving the inebriate

Man's wisdom finds no satisfaction in sin, since G.o.d 322:15 has sentenced sin to suffer. The necromancy of yester- day foreshadowed the mesmerism and hypno- tism of to-day. The drunkard thinks he enjoys 322:18 drunkenness, and you cannot make the inebriate leave his besottedness, until his physical sense of pleasure yields to a higher sense. Then he turns from his cups, as 322:21 the startled dreamer who wakens from an incubus in- curred through the pains of distorted sense. A man who likes to do wrong - finding pleasure in it and refraining 322:24 from it only through fear of consequences - is neither a temperate man nor a reliable religionist.

Uses of suffering

The sharp experiences of belief in the supposit.i.tious life 322:27 of matter, as well as our disappointments and ceaseless woes, turn us like tired children to the arms of divine Love. Then we begin to learn Life 322:30 in divine Science. Without this process of weaning, ”Canst thou by searching find out G.o.d?” It is easier to desire Truth than to rid one's self of error. Mortals 323:1 may seek the understanding of Christian Science, but they will not be able to glean from Christian Science the facts 323:3 of being without striving for them. This strife consists in the endeavor to forsake error of every kind and to pos- sess no other consciousness but good.

A bright outlook

323:6 Through the wholesome chastis.e.m.e.nts of Love, we are helped onward in the march towards righteousness, peace, and purity, which are the landmarks 323:9 of Science. Beholding the infinite tasks of truth, we pause, - wait on G.o.d. Then we push onward, until boundless thought walks enraptured, and concep- 323:12 tion unconfined is winged to reach the divine glory.

Need and supply

In order to apprehend more, we must put into prac- tice what we already know. We must recollect that 323:15 Truth is demonstrable when understood, and that good is not understood until demonstrated.

If ”faithful over a few things,” we shall be made rulers 323:18 over many; but the one unused talent decays and is lost.

When the sick or the sinning awake to realize their need of what they have not, they will be receptive of divine 323:21 Science, which gravitates towards Soul and away from material sense, removes thought from the body, and ele- vates even mortal mind to the contemplation of some- 323:24 thing better than disease or sin. The true idea of G.o.d gives the true understanding of Life and Love, robs the grave of victory, takes away all sin and the delusion that 323:27 there are other minds, and destroys mortality.

Childlike receptivity

The effects of Christian Science are not so much seen as felt. It is the ”still, small voice” of Truth 323:30 uttering itself. We are either turning away from this utterance, or we are listening to it and going up higher. Willingness to become as a little child and 324:1 to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks 324:3 and joy to see them disappear, - this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is a proof of progress. ”Blessed are the 324:6 pure in heart: for they shall see G.o.d.”

Narrow pathway

Unless the harmony and immortality of man are be- coming more apparent, we are not gaining the true idea 324:9 of G.o.d; and the body will reflect what gov- erns it, whether it be Truth or error, understanding or belief, Spirit or matter. Therefore 324:12 ”acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace.”

Be watchful, sober, and vigilant. The way is straight and narrow, which leads to the understanding that G.o.d 324:15 is the only Life. It is a warfare with the flesh, in which we must conquer sin, sickness, and death, either here or hereafter, - certainly before we can reach the goal 324:18 of Spirit, or life in G.o.d.

Paul's enlightenment

Paul was not at first a disciple of Jesus but a perse- cutor of Jesus' followers. When the truth first appeared 324:21 to him in Science, Paul was made blind, and his blindness was felt; but spiritual light soon enabled him to follow the example and teach- 324:24 ings of Jesus, healing the sick and preaching Christian- ity throughout Asia Minor, Greece, and even in imperial Rome.

324:27 Paul writes, ”If Christ [Truth] be not risen, then is our preaching vain.” That is, if the idea of the suprem- acy of Spirit, which is the true conception of being, 324:30 come not to your thought, you cannot be benefited by what I say.

Abiding in Life

Jesus said substantially, ”He that believeth in me 325:1 shall not see death.” That is, he who perceives the true idea of Life loses his belief in death. He who has 325:3 the true idea of good loses all sense of evil, and by reason of this is being ushered into the undying realities of Spirit. Such a one abideth in Life, - 325:6 life obtained not of the body incapable of supporting life, but of Truth, unfolding its own immortal idea. Jesus gave the true idea of being, which results in infinite bless- 325:9 ings to mortals.

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