Chapter 70
a little child, shall in no wise enter therein." Not through astronomy did he point out the way to heaven and the reign of harmony.
We need the spirit of St. Paul, when he stood on Mars'
hill at Athens, bringing Christianity for the first time [30]
[Page 345.]
into Europe. The Spirit bestows spiritual gifts, G.o.d's [1]
presence and providence. St. Paul stood where Socrates had stood four hundred years before, defending himself against the charge of atheism; in the place where De- mosthenes had pleaded for freedom in immortal strains [5]
of eloquence.
We need the spirit of the pious Polycarp, who, when the proconsul said to him, "I will set the beasts upon you, unless you yield your religion," replied: "Let them come; I cannot change from good to bad." Then they [10]
bound him to the stake, set fire to the f.a.gots, and his pure and strong faith rose higher through the baptism of flame.
Methinks the infidel was blind who said, "Christianity is fit only for women and weak men;" but even infidels [15]
may disagree. Bonaparte declared, "Ever since the reign of Christianity began the loftiest intellects have had a practical faith in G.o.d." Daniel Webster said, "My heart has always a.s.sured and rea.s.sured me that Chris- tianity must be a divine reality." [20]
To turn the popular indignation against an advanced form of religion, the pagan slanderers affirmed that Christians took their infants to a place of wors.h.i.+p in order to offer them in sacrifice,-a baptism not of water but of blood, thus distorting or misapprehending [25]
the purpose of Christian sacraments. Christians met in midnight feasts in the early days, and talked of the crucified Saviour; thence arose the rumor that it was a part of Christian wors.h.i.+p to kill and eat a human being. [30]
Really, Christianity turned men away from the thought of fleshly sacrifice, and directed them to spiritual attain-
[Page 346.]
ments. Life, not death, was and is the very centre of [1]
its faith. Christian Science carries this thought even higher, and insists on the demonstration of moral and spiritual healing as eminent proof that G.o.d is understood and ill.u.s.trated. [5]
Origin Of Evil
The origin of evil is the problem of ages. It confronts each generation anew. It confronts Christian Science.
The question is often asked, If G.o.d created only the good, whence comes the evil? [10]
To this question Christian Science replies: Evil never did exist as an ent.i.ty. It is but a belief that there is an opposite intelligence to G.o.d. This belief is a species of idolatry, and is not more true or real than that an image graven on wood or stone is G.o.d. [15]
The mortal admission of the reality of evil perpetuates faith in evil; and the Scriptures declare that "to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are." This leading, self-evident proposition of Christian Science, that, good being real, its opposite is necessarily [20]
unreal, needs to be grasped in all
Truth Versus Error
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." It is a rule in Christian Science never to re- peat error unless it becomes requisite to bring out Truth. [25]
Then lift the curtain, let in the light, and countermand
[Page 347.]
this first command of Solomon, "Answer not a fool accord- [1]
ing to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him,"
A distant rumbling and quivering of the earth foretell the internal action of pent-up gas. To avoid danger from this source people have to escape from their houses to the [5]
open s.p.a.ce. A conical cloud, hanging like a horoscope in the air, foreshadows a cyclone. To escape from this calamity people prepare shelter in caves of the earth.
They who discern the face of the skies cannot always discern the mental signs of these times, and peer through [10]
the opaque error. Where my vision begins and is clear, theirs grows indistinct and ends.
There are diversities of operation by the same spirit.
Two individuals, with all the goodness of generous na- tures, advise me. One says, Go this way; the other [15]
says, Take the opposite direction! Between the two I stand still; or, accepting the premonition of one of them, I follow his counsel, take a few steps, then halt. A true sense not unfamiliar has been awakened. I see the way now. The guardians of His presence go before me. I [20]
enter the path. It may be smooth, or it may be rugged; but it is always straight and narrow; and if it be up- hill all the way, the ascent is easy and the summit can be gained.
G.o.d is responsible for the mission of those whom He [25]
has anointed. Those who know no will but His take His hand, and from the night He leads to light. None can say unto Him, What doest Thou?
_The Christian Science Journal_ was the oldest and only authenticated organ of Christian Science up to [30]
1898. Loyal Scientists are targets for envy, rivalry, slander; and whoever hits this mark is well paid by the
[Page 348.]
umpire. But the Scientists aim highest. They press for- [1]
ward towards the mark of a high calling. They recog- nize the claims of the law and the gospel. They know that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap. They infringe neither the books nor the business of others; and [5]
with hearts overflowing with love for G.o.d, they help on the brotherhood of men. It is not _mine_ but _Thine_ they seek.
When G.o.d bids one uncover iniquity, in order to exterminate it, one should lay it bare; and divine Love will bless this endeavor and those whom it reaches. [10]
"Nothing is hid that shall not be revealed."
It is only a question of time when G.o.d shall reveal His rod, and show the plan of battle. Error, left to itself, acc.u.mulates. Hence, Solomon's transverse command: "Answer a fool according, to his folly, lest he be wise in [15]
his own conceit."
To quench the growing flames of falsehood, once in about seven years I have to repeat this,-that I use no drugs whatever, not even coffea (coffee), thea (tea), cap- sic.u.m (red pepper); though every day, and especially at [20]
dinner, I indulge in h.o.m.opathic doses of _Natrum muri-_ _atic.u.m_ (common salt).
When I found myself under this new _regime_ of medi- cine, the medicine of Mind, I wanted to satisfy my curi- osity as to the effect of drugs on one who had lost all [25]
faith in them. Hence I tried several doses of medicine, and so proved to myself that drugs have no beneficial effect on an individual in a proper state of mind.
I have by no means encouraged students of the Ma.s.sa- chusetts Metaphysical College to enter medical schools, [30]
and afterwards denied this and objected to their entering those schools. A student who consulted me on this sub-
[Page 349.]
ject, received my consent and even the offer of pecuniary [1]
a.s.sistance to take lessons outside of my College, provided he received these lessons of a certain regular-school physi- cian, whose instructions included about twelve lessons, three weeks' time, and the surgical part of midwifery. I [5]
have students with the degree of M. D., who are skilful obstetricians. Such a course with such a teacher would not necessitate essential materialization of a student's thought, nor detract from the metaphysical mode of obstetrics taught in my College. [10]
This student had taken the above-named course in obstetrics when he consulted me on the feasibility of enter- ing a medical school; and to this I objected on the ground that it was inconsistent with Christian Science, which he claimed to be practising; but I was willing, and said [15]