Part 38 (2/2)

the startling inquiries, Are the Scriptures inspired? Are [1]

they true? Did Jesus mean what he said?

If this be the cavil, we reply in the affirmative that the Scripture is true; that Jesus did mean all, and even more than he said or deemed it safe to say at that time. His [5]

words are unmistakable, for they form propositions of self-evident demonstrable truth. Doctrines that deny the substance and practicality of all Christ's teachings cannot be evangelical; and evangelical religion can be established on no other claim than the authenticity of [10]

the Gospels, which support unequivocally the proof that Christian Science, as defined and practised by Jesus, heals the sick, casts out error, and will destroy death.

Referring to The Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, of which I am pastor, a certain clergyman charitably [15]

expressed it, ”the so-called Christian Scientists.”

I am thankful even for his allusion to truth; it being a modification of silence on this subject, and also of what had been said when critics attacked me for supplying the word Science to Christianity,-a word which the people [20]

are now adopting.

The next step for ecclesiasticism to take, is to admit that all Christians are properly called Scientists who follow the commands of our Lord and His Christ, Truth; and that no one is following his full command without [25]

this enlarged sense of the spirit and power of Christianity.

”He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do,”

is a radical and unmistakable declaration of the right and power of Christianity to heal; for this is Christlike, and includes the understanding of man's capabilities and [30]

spiritual power. The condition insisted upon is, first, ”belief;” the Hebrew of which implies understanding.

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How many to-day believe that the power of G.o.d equals [1]

even the power of a drug to heal the sick! Divine Science reveals the Principle of this power, and the rule whereby sin, sickness, disease, and death are destroyed; and G.o.d is this Principle. Let us, then, seek this Science; that we [5]

may know Him better, and love Him more.

Though a man were begirt with the Urim and Thum- mim of priestly office, yet should deny the validity or permanence of Christ's command to heal in all ages, this denial would dishonor that office and misinterpret [10]

evangelical religion. Divine Science is not an interpo- lation of the Scriptures, but is redolent with love, health, and holiness, for the whole human race. It only needs the prism of this Science to divide the rays of Truth, and bring out the entire hues of Deity, which scholastic theol- [15]

ogy has hidden. The lens of Science magnifies the divine power to human sight; and we then see the supremacy of Spirit and the nothingness of matter.

The context of the foregoing Scriptural text explains Jesus' words, ”because I go unto my Father.” ”Because” [20]

in following him, you understand G.o.d and _how_ to turn from matter to Spirit for healing; _how_ to leave self, the sense material, for the sense spiritual; _how_ to accept G.o.d's power and guidance, and become imbued with divine Love that casts out all fear. Then are you bap- [25]

tized in the Truth that destroys all error, and you receive the sense of Life that knows no death, and you _know_ that G.o.d is the only Life.

To reach the consummate naturalness of the Life that is G.o.d, good, we must comply with the first condition [30]

set forth in the text, namely, believe; in other words, understand G.o.d sufficiently to exclude all faith in any

[Page 195.]

other remedy than Christ, the Truth that antidotes all [1]

error. Thence will follow the absorption of all action, motive, and mind, into the rules and divine Principle of metaphysical healing.

Whosoever learns the letter of Christian Science but [5]

possesses not its spirit, is unable to demonstrate this Science; or whosoever hath the spirit without the letter, is held back by reason of the lack of understanding. Both the spirit and the letter are requisite; and having these, every one can prove, in some degree, the validity of those [10]

words of the great Master, ”For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.”

It has been said that the New Testament does not au- thorize us to expect the ministry of healing at this period.

We ask what is the authority for such a conclusion, [15]

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