Part 72 (2/2)
idle words, vain amus.e.m.e.nts, and all the _et cetera_ of the ways and means of personal sense.
Let Christian Scientists minister to the sick; the school- room is the _dernier ressort_. Let them seek the lost sheep [5]
who, having strayed from the true fold, have lost their great Shepherd and yearn to find living pastures and rest beside still waters. These long for the Christlike- ness that is above the present status of religion and be- yond the walks of common life, quite on the verge of [10]
heaven. Without the cross and healing, Christianity has no central emblem, no history.
The seeds of Truth fall by the wayside, on artless listeners. They fall on stony ground and shallow soil.
The fowls of the air pick them up. Much of what has [15]
been sown has withered away, but what remaineth has fallen into the good and honest hearts and is bearing fruit.
The third stage of mental growth is manifested in _love_, the greatest of all stages and states of being; love that [20]
is irrespective of self, rank, or following. For some time it has been clear to my thought that those students of Christian Science whose Christian characters and lives recommend them, should receive full fellows.h.i.+p from us, no matter who has taught them. If they have been taught [25]
wrongly, they are not morally responsible for this, and need special help. They are as lambs that have sought the true fold and the great Shepherd, and strayed inno- cently; hence we should be ready and glad to help them and point the way. [30]
Divine Love is the substance of Christian Science, the basis of its demonstration, yea, its foundation and super-
[Page 358.]
structure. Love impels good works. Love is greatly [1]
needed, and must be had to mark the way in divine Science.
The student who heals by teaching and teaches by healing, will graduate under divine honors, which are [5]
the only appropriate seals for Christian Science. State honors perish, and their gain is loss to the Christian Scientist. They include for him at present naught but tardy justice, hounded footsteps, false laurels. G.o.d alone is his help, his s.h.i.+eld and great reward. He that [10]
seeketh aught besides G.o.d, loseth in Life, Truth, and Love. All men shall be satisfied when they ”awake in His likeness,” and they never should be until then. Hu- man pride is human weakness. Self-knowledge, humility, and love are divine strength. Christ's vestures are put [15]
on only when mortals are ”washed in the blood of the Lamb;” we must walk in the way which Jesus marked out, if we would reach the heaven-crowned summit of Christian Science.
Be it understood that I do not require Christian Sci- [20]
entists to stop teaching, to dissolve their organizations, or to desist from organizing churches and a.s.sociations.
The Ma.s.sachusetts Metaphysical College, the first and only College for teaching Christian Science Mind- healing, after accomplis.h.i.+ng the greatest work of the [25]
ages, and at the pinnacle of prosperity, is closed. Let Scientists who have grown to self-sacrifice do their present work, awaiting, with staff in hand, G.o.d's commands.
When students have fulfilled all the good ends of [30]
organization, and are convinced that by leaving the material forms thereof a higher spiritual unity is won,
[Page 359.]
then is the time to follow the example of the _Alma Mater_. [1]
Material organization is requisite in the beginning; but when it has done its work, the purely Christly method of teaching and preaching must be adopted. On the same principle, you continue the mental argument in the prac- [5]
tice of Christian healing until you can cure without it instantaneously, and through Spirit alone.
St. Paul says: ”When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For [10]
now we see through a gla.s.s, darkly; but then face to face.” Growth is restricted by forcing humanity out of the proper channels for development, or by holding it in fetters.
For Jesus to walk the water was scientific, insomuch [15]
as he was able to do this; but it is neither wisdom nor Science for poor humanity to step upon the Atlantic until we can walk on the water.
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