0.0 – Christian Science Mary Baker Eddy’s Other Writings Prose Works Manual – Subtitles

1	AN ALLEGORY 

  	    Picture to yourself "a city set upon a hill," a
 3	celestial city above all clouds, in serene azure and
  	unfathomable glory:  having no temple therein, for God is
  	the temple thereof; nor need of the sun, neither of th...e
 6	moon, for God doth lighten it. Then from this sacred
  	summit behold a Stranger wending his way downward,
  	to where a few laborers in a valley at the foot of the moun-
 9	tain are working and watching for his coming. 
  	    The descent and ascent are beset with peril, priva-
  	tion, temptation, toil, suffering. Venomous serpents hide
12	among the rocks, beasts of prey prowl in the path, wolves
  	in sheep's clothing are ready to devour; but the Stranger
  	meets and masters their secret and open attacks with
15	serene confidence. 
  	    The Stranger eventually stands in the valley at the
  	foot of the mountain. He saith unto the patient toilers
18	therein: "What do ye here?  Would ye ascend the moun-
  	tain, — climbing its rough cliffs, hushing the hissing
  	serpents, taming the beasts of prey, — and bathe in its
21	streams, rest in its cool grottos, and drink from its living
  	fountains?  The way winds and widens in the valley;
  	up the hill it is straight and narrow, and few there be that
24	find it." 
 
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 1	    His converse with the watchers and workers in the
  	valley closes, and he makes his way into the streets of a
 3	city made with hands. 
  	    Pausing at the threshold of a palatial dwelling, he
  	knocks and waits. The door is shut. He hears the
 6	sounds of festivity and mirth; youth, manhood, and age
  	gayly tread the gorgeously tapestried parlors, dancing-
  	halls, and banquet-rooms. But a little while, and the
 9	music is dull, the wine is unsipped, the footfalls abate,
  	the laughter ceases. Then from the window of this dwel-
  	ling a face looks out, anxiously surveying him who waiteth
12	at the door. 
  	    Within this mortal mansion are adulterers, fornicators,
  	idolaters; drunkenness, witchcraft, variance, envy, emu-
15	lation, hatred, wrath, murder. Appetites and passions
  	have so dimmed their sight that he alone who looks from
  	that dwelling, through the clearer pane of his own heart
18	tired of sin, can see the Stranger. 
  	    Startled beyond measure at beholding him, this mortal
  	inmate withdraws; but growing more and more troubled,
21	he seeks to leave the odious company and the cruel walls,
  	and to find the Stranger. Stealing cautiously away from
  	his comrades, he departs; then turns back, — he is afraid
24	to go on and to meet the Stranger. So he returns to the
  	house, only to find the lights all wasted and the music
  	fled. Finding no happiness within, he rushes again
27	into the lonely streets, seeking peace but finding none. 
  	Naked, hungry, athirst, this time he struggles on, and
  	at length reaches the pleasant path of the valley at the
30	foot of the mountain, whence he may hopefully look for
  	the reappearance of the Stranger, and receive his heavenly
  	guidance. 
 
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 1	    The Stranger enters a massive carved stone mansion,
  	and saith unto the dwellers therein, "Blessed are the
 3	poor in spirit:  for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." But
  	they understand not his saying. 
  	    These are believers of different sects, and of no sect;
 6	some, so-called Christian Scientists in sheep's clothing;
  	and all "drunken without wine." They have small con-
  	ceptions of spiritual riches, few cravings for the immortal,
 9	but are puffed up with the applause of the world:  they
  	have plenty of pelf, and fear not to fall upon the Stranger,
  	seize his pearls, throw them away, and afterwards try to
12	kill him. 
  	    Somewhat disheartened, he patiently seeks another
  	dwelling, — only to find its inmates asleep at noontide! 
15	Robust forms, with manly brow nodding on cushioned
  	chairs, their feet resting on footstools, or, flat on their
  	backs, lie stretched on the floor, dreaming away the
18	hours. Balancing on one foot, with eyes half open,
  	the porter starts up in blank amazement and looks at
  	the Stranger, calls out, rubs his eyes, — amazed beyond
21	measure that anybody is animated with a purpose, and
  	seen working for it! 
  	    They in this house are those that "provoke Him in
24	the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert." Away
  	from this charnel-house of the so-called living, the Stranger
  	turns quickly, and wipes off the dust from his feet as a
27	testimony against sensualism in its myriad forms. As
  	he departs, he sees robbers finding ready ingress to that
  	dwelling of sleepers in the midst of murderous hordes,
30	without watchers and the doors unbarred! 
  	    Next he enters a place of worship, and saith unto them,
  	"Go ye into all the world; preach the gospel, heal the
 
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 1	sick, cast out devils, raise the dead; for the Scripture
  	saith the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath
 3	made you free from the law of sin and death." And they
  	cast him out. 
  	    Once more he seeks the dwelling-place of mortals and
 6	knocks loudly. The door is burst open, and sufferers
  	shriek for help:  that house is on fire! The flames caught
  	in the dwelling of luxury, where the blind saw them not,
 9	but the flesh at length did feel them; thence they spread
  	to the house of slumberers who heeded them not, until
  	they became unmanageable; fed by the fat of hypocrisy
12	and vainglory, they consumed the next dwelling; then
  	crept unseen into the synagogue, licking up the blood
  	of martyrs and wrapping their altars in ruins. "God is a
15	consuming fire." 
  	    Thus are all mortals, under every hue of circumstances,
  	driven out of their houses of clay and, homeless wan-
18	derers in a beleaguered city, forced to seek the Father's
  	house, if they would be led to the valley and up the
  	mount. 
21	    Seeing the wisdom of withdrawing from those who
  	persistently rejected him, the Stranger returned to the
  	valley; first, to meet with joy his own, to wash their
24	feet, and take them up the mountain. Well might this
  	heavenly messenger exclaim, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
  	thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which
27	are sent unto thee, . . . Behold, your house is left unto
  	you desolate." 
  	    Discerning in his path the penitent one who had groped
30	his way from the dwelling of luxury, the Stranger saith
  	unto him, "Wherefore comest thou hither?" 
  	    He answered, "The sight of thee unveiled my sins, and
 
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 1	turned my misnamed joys to sorrow.  When I went back
  	into the house to take something out of it, my misery
 3	increased; so I came hither, hoping that I might follow
  	thee whithersoever thou goest." 
  	    And the Stranger saith unto him, "Wilt thou climb
 6	the mountain, and take nothing of thine own with thee?" 
  	    He answered, "I will." 
  	    "Then," saith the Stranger, "thou hast chosen the
 9	good part; follow me." 
  	    Many there were who had entered the valley to specu-
  	late in worldly policy, religion, politics, finance, and to
12	search for wealth and fame. These had heavy baggage
  	of their own, and insisted upon taking all of it with them,
  	which must greatly hinder their ascent. 
15	    The journey commences. The encumbered travellers
  	halt and disagree. They stoutly belay those who, hav-
  	ing less baggage, ascend faster than themselves, and
18	betimes burden them with their own. Despairing of
  	gaining the summit, loaded as they are, they conclude to
  	stop and lay down a few of the heavy weights, — but
21	only to take them up again, more than ever determined
  	not to part with their baggage. 
  	    All this time the Stranger is pointing the way, show-
24	ing them their folly, rebuking their pride, consoling their
  	afflictions, and helping them on, saying, "He that loseth
  	his life for my sake, shall find it." 
27	    Obstinately holding themselves back, and sore-footed,
  	they fall behind and lose sight of their guide; when,
  	stumbling and grumbling, and fighting each other, they
30	plunge headlong over the jagged rocks. 
  	    Then he who has no baggage goes back and kindly
  	binds up their wounds, wipes away the blood stains, and
 
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 1	would help them on; but suddenly the Stranger shouts,
  	"Let them alone; they must learn from the things they
 3	suffer.  Make thine own way; and if thou strayest, listen
  	for the mountain-horn, and it will call thee back to the
  	path that goeth upward." 
 6	    Dear reader, dost thou suspect that the valley is hu-
  	mility, that the mountain is heaven-crowned Christianity,
  	and the Stranger the ever-present Christ, the spiritual
 9	idea which from the summit of bliss surveys the vale of
  	the flesh, to burst the bubbles of earth with a breath of
  	heaven, and acquaint sensual mortals with the mystery
12	of godliness, — unchanging, unquenchable Love? Hast
  	not thou heard this Christ knock at the door of thine own
  	heart, and closed it against Truth, to "eat and drink
15	with the drunken"? Hast thou been driven by suffer-
  	ing to the foot of the mount, but earth-bound, burdened
  	by pride, sin, and self, hast thou turned back, stumbled,
18	and wandered away? Or hast thou tarried in the habita-
  	tion of the senses, pleased and stupefied, until wakened
  	through the baptism of fire? 
21	    He alone ascends the hill of Christian Science who
  	follows the Way-shower, the spiritual presence and idea
  	of God. Whatever obstructs the way, — causing to
24	stumble, fall, or faint, those mortals who are striving
  	to enter the path, — divine Love will remove; and up-
  	lift the fallen and strengthen the weak. Therefore, give
27	up thy earth-weights; and observe the apostle's admoni-
  	tion, "Forgetting those things which are behind, and
  	reaching forth unto those which are before." Then,
30	loving God supremely and thy neighbor as thyself, thou
  	wilt safely bear thy cross up to the throne of everlasting
  	glory. 

 1	VOICES OF SPRING 

  	    Mine is an obstinate penchant for nature in all her
 3	moods and forms, a satisfaction with whatever is hers. 
  	And what shall this be named, a weakness, or a — 
  	virtue? 
 6	    In spring, nature like a thrif...ty housewife sets the earth
  	in order; and between taking up the white carpets and
  	putting down the green ones, her various apartments are
 9	dismally dirty. 
  	    Spring is my sweetheart, whose voices are sad or glad,
  	even as the heart may be; restoring in memory the sweet
12	rhythm of unforgotten harmonies, or touching tenderly
  	its tearful tones. 
  	    Spring passes over mountain and meadow, waking up
15	the world; weaving the wavy grass, nursing the timid
  	spray, stirring the soft breeze; rippling all nature in
  	ceaseless flow, with "breath all odor and cheek all bloom." 
18	Whatever else droops, spring is gay:  her little feet trip
  	lightly on, turning up the daisies, paddling the water-
  	cresses, rocking the oriole's cradle; challenging the sed-
21	entary shadows to activity, and the streams to race for the
  	sea. Her dainty fingers put the fur cap on pussy-willow,
  	paint in pink the petals of arbutus, and sweep in soft
24	strains her Orphean lyre. "The voice of the turtle is
  	heard in our land." The snow-bird that tarried through
  	the storm, now chirps to the breeze; the cuckoo sounds
27	her invisible lute, calling the feathered tribe back to their
  	summer homes. Old robin, though stricken to the heart
  	with winter's snow, prophesies of fair earth and sunny
30	skies. The brooklet sings melting murmurs to merry
 
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 1	meadows; the leaves clap their hands, and the winds
  	make melody through dark pine groves. 
 3	    What is the anthem of human life? 
  	    Has love ceased to moan over the new-made grave,
  	and, looking upward, does it patiently pray for the per-
 6	petual springtide wherein no arrow wounds the dove? 
  	Human hope and faith should join in nature's grand har-
  	mony, and, if on minor key, make music in the heart. 
 9	And man, more friendly, should call his race as gently
  	to the springtide of Christ's dear love. St. Paul wrote,
  	"Rejoice in the Lord always." And why not, since man's
12	possibilities are infinite, bliss is eternal, and the conscious-
  	ness thereof is here and now? 
  	    The alders bend over the streams to shake out their
15	tresses in the water-mirrors; let mortals bow before the
  	creator, and, looking through Love's transparency, behold
  	man in God's own image and likeness, arranging in the
18	beauty of holiness each budding thought. It is good to
  	talk with our past hours, and learn what report they
  	bear, and how they might have reported more spirit-
21	ual growth. With each returning year, higher joys,
  	holier aims, a purer peace and diviner energy, should
  	freshen the fragrance of being. Nature's first and last
24	lessons teach man to be kind, and even pride should
  	sanction what our natures need. Popularity, — what is
  	it? A mere mendicant that boasts and begs, and God
27	denies charity. 
  	    When gentle violet lifts its blue eye to heaven, and
  	crown imperial unveils its regal splendor to the sun;
30	when the modest grass, inhabiting the whole earth, stoops
  	meekly before the blast; when the patient corn waits
  	on the elements to put forth its slender blade, construct
 
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1	the stalk, instruct the ear, and crown the full corn in the
  	ear, — then, are mortals looking up, waiting on God,
 3	and committing their way unto Him who tosses earth's
  	mass of wonders into their hands? When downtrodden
  	like the grass, did it make them humble, loving, obedi-
 6	ent, full of good odor, and cause them to wait patiently
  	on God for man's rich heritage, — "dominion over all
  	the earth"? Thus abiding in Truth, the warmth and
 9	sunlight of prayer and praise and understanding will
  	ripen the fruits of Spirit, and goodness will have its spring-
  	tide of freedom and greatness. 
12	    When the white-winged dove feeds her callow brood,
  	nestles them under her wings, and, in tones tremulous
  	with tenderness, calls them to her breast, do mortals
15	remember their cradle hymns, and thank God for those
  	redemptive words from a mother's lips which taught
  	them the Lord's Prayer? 

18	    O gentle presence, peace and joy and power;
  	    O Life divine, that owns each waiting hour;
  	    Thou Love that guards the nestling's faltering flight! 
21	    Keep Thou my child on upward wing to-night. 

  	    Midst the falling leaves of old-time faiths, above the
  	frozen crust of creed and dogma, the divine Mind-force,
24	filling all space and having all power, upheaves the earth. 
  	In sacred solitude divine Science evolved nature as thought,
  	and thought as things. This supreme potential Principle
27	reigns in the realm of the real, and is "God with us,"
  	the I AM. 
  	    As mortals awake from their dream of material sen-
30	sation, this adorable, all-inclusive God, and all earth's
  	hieroglyphics of Love, are understood; and infinite Mind
 
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 1	is seen kindling the stars, rolling the worlds, reflecting
  	all space and Life, — but not life in matter. Wisely
 3	governing, informing the universe, this Mind is Truth, — 
  	not laws of matter. Infinitely just, merciful, and wise,
  	this Mind is Love, — but not fallible love. 
 6	    Spring is here! and doors that closed on Christian
  	Science in "the long winter of our discontent," are open
  	flung. Its seedtime has come to enrich earth and en-
 9	robe man in righteousness; may its sober-suited autumn
  	follow with hues of heaven, ripened sheaves, and harvest
  	songs. 

12	                             "WHERE ART THOU?" 

  	    In the allegory of Genesis, third chapter and ninth
  	verse, two mortals, walking in the cool of the day midst
15	the stately palms, many-hued blossoms, perfume-laden
  	breezes, and crystal... streams of the Orient, pondered the
  	things of man and God. 
18	    A sense of evil is supposed to have spoken, been listened
  	to, and afterwards to have formed an evil sense that
  	blinded the eyes of reason, masked with deformity the
21	glories of revelation, and shamed the face of mortals. 
  	    What was this sense? Error versus Truth:  first, a
  	supposition; second, a false belief; third, suffering;
24	fourth, death. 
  	    Is man the supposer, false believer, sufferer? 
  	    Not man, but a mortal — the antipode of immortal
27	man. Supposing, false believing, suffering are not fac-
  	ulties of Mind, but are qualities of error. 
  	    The supposition is, that God and His idea are not all-
30	power; that there is something besides Him; that this
 
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 1	something is intelligent matter; that sin — yea, self-
  	hood — is apart from God, where pleasure and pain,
 3	good and evil, life and death, commingle, and are for-
  	ever at strife; even that every ray of Truth, of infinity,
  	omnipotence, omnipresence, goodness, could be absorbed
 6	in error! God cannot be obscured, and this renders error
  	a palpable falsity, yea, nothingness; on the basis that
  	black is not a color because it absorbs all the rays of
 9	light. 
  	    The "Alpha and Omega" of Christian Science voices
  	this question:  Where do we hold intelligence to be? Is
12	it in both evil and good, in matter as well as Spirit? 
  	If so, we are literally and practically denying that God,
  	good, is supreme, all power and presence, and are turn-
15	ing away from the only living and true God, to "lords
  	many and gods many." 
  	    Where art thou, O mortal! who turnest away from
18	the divine source of being, — calling on matter to work
  	out the problem of Mind, to aid in understanding and
  	securing the sweet harmonies of Spirit that relate to the
21	universe, including man? 
  	    Paul asked: "What communion hath light with dark-
  	ness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial?" The
24	worshippers of Baal worshipped the sun. They believed
  	that something besides God had authority and power,
  	could heal and bless; that God wrought through matter
27	 — by means of that which does not reflect Him in a single
  	quality or quantity! — the grand realities of Mind, thus
  	to exemplify the power of Truth and Love. 
30	    The ancient Chaldee hung his destiny out upon the
  	heavens; but ancient or modern Christians, instructed in
  	divine Science, know that the prophet better understood
 
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1	Him who said: "He doeth according to His will in the
  	army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth;
 3	and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest
  	Thou?" 
  	    Astrology is well in its place, but this place is second-
 6	ary. Necromancy has no foundation, — in fact, no
  	intelligence; and the belief that it has, deceives itself. 
  	Whatever simulates power and Truth in matter, does this
 9	as a lie declaring itself, that mortals' faith in matter may
  	have the effect of power; but when the whole fabrication
  	is found to be a lie, away goes all its supposed power and
12	prestige. 
  	    Why do Christian Scientists treat disease as disease,
  	since there is no disease? 
15	    This is done only as one gives the lie to a lie; because
  	it is a lie, without one word of Truth in it. You must
  	find error to be nothing:  then, and only then, do you
18	handle it in Science. The diabolism of suppositional
  	evil at work in the name of good, is a lie of the highest
  	degree of nothingness:  just reduce this falsity to its proper
21	denomination, and you have done with it. 
  	    How shall we treat a negation, or error — by means
  	of matter, or Mind? Is matter Truth? No! Then it
24	cannot antidote error. 
  	    Can belief destroy belief? No:  understanding is re-
  	quired to do this. By the substitution of Truth demon-
27	strated, Science remedies the ills of material beliefs. 
  	    Because I have uncovered evil, and dis-covered for
  	you divine Science, which saith, "Be not overcome of
30	evil, but overcome evil with good," and you have not
  	loved sufficiently to understand this Golden Rule and
  	demonstrate the might of perfect Love that casteth out
 
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 1	all fear, shall you turn away from this divine Principle
  	to graven images? Remember the Scripture: —  
 3	    "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,
  	My lord delayeth his coming; 
  	    "And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to
 6	eat and drink with the drunken; 
  	    "The lord of that servant shall come in a day when
  	he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not
 9	aware of, 
  	    "And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his por-
  	tion with the hypocrites." 
12	    One mercilessly assails me for opposing the subtle lie,
  	others charge upon me with full-fledged invective for, as
  	they say, having too much charity; but neither moves
15	me from the path made luminous by divine Love. 
  	    In my public works I lay bare the ability, in belief, of
  	evil to break the Decalogue, — to murder, steal, commit
18	adultery, and so on. Those who deny my wisdom or
  	right to expose error, are either willing participants in
  	wrong, afraid of its supposed power, or ignorant of it. 
21	    The notion that one is covering iniquity by asserting
  	its nothingness, is a fault of zealots, who, like Peter,
  	sleep when the Watcher bids them watch, and when the
24	hour of trial comes would cut off somebody's ears. Such
  	people say, "Would you have me get out of a burning
  	house, or stay in it?" 
27	    I would have you already out, and know that you are
  	out; also, to remember the Scripture concerning those
  	who do evil that good may come, — "whose damnation
30	is just;" and that whoso departeth from divine Science,
  	seeking power or good aside from God, has done himself
  	harm. 
 
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 1	    Mind is supreme:  Love is the master of hate; Truth,
  	the victor over a lie. Hath not Science voiced this les-
 3	son to you, — that evil is powerless, that a lie is never
  	true? It is your province to wrestle with error, to handle
  	the serpent and bruise its head; but you cannot, as a
 6	Christian Scientist, resort to stones and clubs, — yea, to
  	matter, — to kill the serpent of a material mind. 
  	    Do you love that which represents God most, His high-
 9	est idea as seen to-day? No! 
  	    Then you would hate Jesus if you saw him personally,
  	and knew your right obligations towards him. He would
12	insist on the rule and demonstration of divine Science:
  	even that you first cast out your own dislike and hatred
  	of God's idea, — the beam in your own eye that hinders
15	your seeing clearly how to cast the mote of evil out of
  	other eyes. You cannot demonstrate the Principle of
  	Christian Science and not love its idea:  we gather not
18	grapes of thorns, nor figs of thistles. 
  	    Where art thou? 

DIVINE SCIENCE 

21	    What is it but another name for Christian Science,
  	the cognomen of all true religion, the quintessence of
  	Christianity, that heals disease and sin and destroys
24	death! Part and parcel of Truth and Love, wherever
...  	one ray of its effulgence looks in upon the heart, behold
  	a better man, woman, or child. 
27	    Science is the fiat of divine intelligence, which, hoary
  	with eternity, touches time only to take away its frailty. 
  	That it rests on everlasting foundations, the sequence
30	proves. 

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 1	    Have I discovered and founded at this period Chris-
  	tian Science, that which reveals the truth of Love, — is
 3	the question. 
  	    And how can you be certain of so momentous an
  	affirmative? By proving its effect on yourself to be — 
 6	divine. 
  	    What is the Principle and rule of Christian Science? 
  	    Infinite query! Wonder in heaven and on earth, — 
 9	who shall say? The immaculate Son of the Blessed
  	has spoken of them as the Golden Rule and its Principle,
  	God who is Love. Listen, and he illustrates the rule:
12	"Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the
  	midst of them, and said, . . . Whosoever . . . shall
  	humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest
15	in the kingdom of heaven." 
  	    Harmony is heaven. Science brings out harmony;
  	but this harmony is not understood unless it produces a
18	growing affection for all good, and consequent disaffec-
  	tion for all evil, hypocrisy, evil-speaking, lust, envy, hate. 
  	Where these exist, Christian Science has no sure foot-
21	hold:  they obscure its divine element, and thus seem
  	to extinguish it. Even the life of Jesus was belittled
  	and belied by personalities possessing these defacing de-
24	formities. Only the devout Marys, and such as lived
  	according to his precepts, understood the concrete char-
  	acter of him who taught — by the wayside, in humble
27	homes, to itching ears and to dull disciples — the words
  	of Life. 
  	    The ineffable Life and light which he reflected through
30	divine Science is again reproduced in the character which
  	sensualism, as heretofore, would hide or besmear. Sin
  	of any sort tends to hide from an individual this grand  

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1	verity in Science, that the appearing of good in an in-
  	dividual involves the disappearing of evil. He who first
 3	brings to humanity some great good, must have gained
  	its height beforehand, to be able to lift others toward
  	it. I first proved to myself, not by "words," — these
 6	afford no proof, — but by demonstration of Christian
  	Science, that its Principle is divine. All must go and do
  	likewise. 
 9	    Faith illumined by works; the spiritual understanding
  	which cannot choose but to labor and love; hope hold-
  	ing steadfastly to good in the midst of seething evil;
12	charity that suffereth long and is kind, but cancels not
  	sin until it be destroyed, — these afford the only rule I
  	have found which demonstrates Christian Science. 
15	    And remember, a pure faith in humanity will subject
  	one to deception; the uses of good, to abuses from evil;
  	and calm strength will enrage evil. But the very heavens
18	shall laugh at them, and move majestically to your de-
  	fense when the armies of earth press hard upon you. 

  	    "Thou must be true thyself,
21	       If thou the truth wouldst teach;
  	     Thy soul must overflow, if thou
  	       Another's soul wouldst reach;
24	     It needs the overflow of heart,
  	       To give the lips full speech. 
  	     "Think truly, and thy thoughts
27	       Shall the world's famine feed;
  	     Speak truly, and each word of thine
  	       Shall be a fruitful seed;
30	     Live truly, and thy life shall be
  	       A great and noble creed." 

 1	FIDELITY 

  	    If people would confine their talk to subjects that are
 3	profitable, that which St. John informs us took place
  	once in heaven, would happen very frequently on earth,
  	 — silence for the space of half an hour. 
 6	 ...   Experience is victor, never the vanquished; and out
  	of defeat comes the secret of victory. That to-morrow
  	starts from to-day and is one day beyond it, robes the
 9	future with hope's rainbow hues. 
  	    In the battle of life, good is made more industrious
  	and persistent because of the supposed activity of evil. 
12	The elbowing of the crowd plants our feet more firmly. 
  	In the mental collisions of mortals and the strain of in-
  	tellectual wrestlings, moral tension is tested, and, if it
15	yields not, grows stronger. The past admonishes us:
  	with finger grim and cold it points to every mortal mistake;
  	or smiling saith, "Thou hast been faithful over a few
18	things." 
  	    Art thou a child, and hast added one furrow to the
  	brow of care? Art thou a husband, and hast pierced
21	the heart venturing its all of happiness to thy keeping? 
  	Art thou a wife, and hast bowed the o'erburdened head
  	of thy husband? Hast thou a friend, and forgettest to be
24	grateful? Remember, that for all this thou alone canst
  	and must atone. Carelessly or remorselessly thou mayest
  	have sent along the ocean of events a wave that will some
27	time flood thy memory, surge dolefully at the door of con-
  	science, and pour forth the unavailing tear. 
  	    Change and the grave may part us; the wisdom that
30	might have blessed the past may come too late. One
 
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 1	backward step, one relinquishment of right in an evil
  	hour, one faithless tarrying, has torn the laurel from many
 3	a brow and repose from many a heart. Good is never
  	the reward of evil, and vice versa. 
  	    There is no excellence without labor; and the time to
 6	work, is now. Only by persistent, unremitting, straight-
  	forward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the
  	left, seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which
 9	cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the
  	faithful. 
  	    That law-school is not at fault which sends forth a
12	barrister who never brings out a brief. Why? Because
  	he followed agriculture instead of litigation, forsook
  	Blackstone for gray stone, dug into soils instead of delv-
15	ing into suits, raised potatoes instead of pleas, and drew
  	up logs instead of leases. He has not been faithful over
  	a few things. 
18	    Is a musician made by his teacher? He makes him-
  	self a musician by practising what he was taught. The
  	conscientious are successful. They follow faithfully;
21	through evil or through good report, they work on to the
  	achievement of good; by patience, they inherit the prom-
  	ise. Be active, and, however slow, thy success is sure:
24	toil is triumph; and — thou hast been faithful over a few
  	things. 
  	    The lives of great men and women are miracles of pa-
27	tience and perseverance. Every luminary in the constel-
  	lation of human greatness, like the stars, comes out in
  	the darkness to shine with the reflected light of God. 
30	    Material philosophy, human ethics, scholastic theology,
  	and physics have not sufficiently enlightened mankind. 
  	Human wrong, sickness, sin, and death still appear in
 
 Miscellaneous Writings --- Fidelity                                               
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 1	mortal belief, and they never bring out the right action
  	of mind or body. When will the whole human race have
 3	one God, — an undivided affection that leaves the unreal
  	material basis of things, for the spiritual foundation and
  	superstructure that is real, right, and eternal? 
 6	    First purify thought, then put thought into words,
  	and words into deeds; and after much slipping and
  	clambering, you will go up the scale of Science to the
 9	second rule, and be made ruler over many things. Fidelity
  	finds its reward and its strength in exalted purpose. Seek-
  	ing is not sufficient whereby to arrive at the results of
12	Science:  you must strive; and the glory of the strife
  	comes of honesty and humility. 
  	    Do human hopes deceive? is joy a trembler? Then,
15	weary pilgrim, unloose the latchet of thy sandals; for the
  	place whereon thou standest is sacred. By that, you may
  	know you are parting with a material sense of life and
18	happiness to win the spiritual sense of good. O learn to
  	lose with God! and you find Life eternal:  you gain all. 
  	To doubt this is implicit treason to divine decree. 
21	    The parable of "the ten virgins" serves to illustrate
  	the evil of inaction and delay. This parable is drawn
  	from the sad history of Vesta, — a little girl of eight
24	years, who takes the most solemn vow of celibacy for thirty
  	years, and is subject to terrible torture if the lamp she
  	tends is not replenished with oil day and night, so that the
27	flame never expires. The moral of the parable is pointed,
  	and the diction purely Oriental. 
  	    We learn from this parable that neither the cares of
30	this world nor the so-called pleasures or pains of mate-
  	rial sense are adequate to plead for the neglect of spiritual
  	light, that must be tended to keep aglow the flame of
 
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 1	devotion whereby to enter into the joy of divine Science
  	demonstrated. 
 3	    The foolish virgins had no oil in their lamps:  their
  	way was material; thus they were in doubt and dark-
  	ness. They heeded not their sloth, their fading warmth
 6	of action; hence the steady decline of spiritual light,
  	until, the midnight gloom upon them, they must borrow
  	the better-tended lamps of the faithful. By entering
 9	the guest-chamber of Truth, and beholding the bridal
  	of Life and Love, they would be wedded to a higher
  	understanding of God. Each moment's fair expect-
12	ancy was to behold the bridegroom, the One "altogether
  	lovely." 
  	    It was midnight:  darkness profound brooded over
15	earth's lazy sleepers. With no oil in their lamps, no
  	spiritual illumination to look upon him whom they had
  	pierced, they heard the shout, "The bridegroom cometh!" 
18	But how could they behold him? Hear that human
  	cry: "Oh, lend us your oil! our lamps have gone out,
  	 — no light! earth's fables flee, and heaven is afar
21	off." 
  	    The door is shut. The wise virgins had no oil to spare,
  	and they said to the foolish, "Go to them that sell, and
24	buy for yourselves." Seek Truth, and pursue it. It should
  	cost you something:  you are willing to pay for error
  	and receive nothing in return; but if you pay the price of
27	Truth, you shall receive all. 
  	    "The children of this world are in their generation
  	wiser than the children of light;" they watch the market,
30	acquaint themselves with the etiquette of the exchange,
  	and are ready for the next move. How much more should
  	we be faithful over the few things of Spirit, that are able
 
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 1	to make us wise unto salvation! Let us watch and pray
  	that we enter not into the temptation of ease in sin; and
 3	let us not forget that others before us have laid upon the
  	altar all that we have to sacrifice, and have passed to
  	their reward. Too soon we cannot turn from disease
 6	in the body to find disease in the mortal mind, and its cure,
  	in working for God. Thought must be made better, and
  	human life more fruitful, for the divine energy to move
 9	it onward and upward. 
  	    Warmed by the sunshine of Truth, watered by the
  	heavenly dews of Love, the fruits of Christian Science
12	spring upward, and away from the sordid soil of self and
  	matter. Are we clearing the gardens of thought by up-
  	rooting the noxious weeds of passion, malice, envy, and
15	strife? Are we picking away the cold, hard pebbles of
  	selfishness, uncovering the secrets of sin and burnishing
  	anew the hidden gems of Love, that their pure perfection
18	shall appear? Are we feeling the vernal freshness and
  	sunshine of enlightened faith? 
  	    The weeds of mortal mind are not always destroyed
21	by the first uprooting; they reappear, like devastating
  	witch-grass, to choke the coming clover. O stupid gar-
  	dener! watch their reappearing, and tear them away from
24	their native soil, until no seedling be left to propagate — 
  	and rot. 
  	    Among the manifold soft chimes that will fill the haunted
27	chambers of memory, this is the sweetest: "Thou hast
  	been faithful!" 

 1	             TRUE PHILOSOPHY AND COMMUNION 

  	    It is related of Justin Martyr that, hearing of a Pythag-
 3	orean professor of ethics, he expressed the wish to be-
  	come one of his disciples. "Very well," the teacher
  	replied; "but have y...ou studied music, astronomy, and
 6	geometry, and do you think it possible for you to under-
  	stand aught of that which leads to bliss, without hav-
  	ing mastered the sciences that disengage the soul from
 9	objects of sense, so rendering it a fit habitation for
  	the intelligences?" On Justin's confessing that he had
  	not studied those branches, he was dismissed by the
12	professor. 
  	    Alas for such a material science of life! Of what
  	avail would geometry be to a poor sinner struggling with
15	temptation, or to a man with the smallpox? 
  	    Ancient and modern philosophies are spoiled by lack
  	of Science. They would place Soul wholly inside of body,
18	intelligence in matter; and from error of premise would
  	seek a correct conclusion. Such philosophy can never
  	demonstrate the Science of Life, — the Science which
21	Paul understood when he spoke of willingness "to be
  	absent from the body, and present with the Lord." Such
  	philosophy is far from the rules of the mighty Nazarene
24	Prophet. His words, living in our hearts, were these:
  	"Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as
  	a little child, shall in no wise enter therein." Not through
27	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'
30	hill at Athens, bringing Christianity for the first time
 
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  Miscellaneous Writings --- True Philosophy and Communion                 

 1	into Europe. The Spirit bestows spiritual gifts, God's
  	presence and providence. St. Paul stood where Socrates
 3	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
 6	of eloquence. 
  	    We need the spirit of the pious Polycarp, who, when
  	the proconsul said to him, "I will set the beasts upon
 9	you, unless you yield your religion," replied: "Let them
  	come; I cannot change from good to bad." Then they
  	bound him to the stake, set fire to the fagots, and his
12	pure and strong faith rose higher through the baptism
  	of flame. 
  	    Methinks the infidel was blind who said, "Christianity
15	is fit only for women and weak men;" but even infidels
  	may disagree. Bonaparte declared, "Ever since the
  	reign of Christianity began the loftiest intellects have had
18	a practical faith in God." Daniel Webster said, "My
  	heart has always assured and reassured me that Chris-
  	tianity must be a divine reality." 
21	    To turn the popular indignation against an advanced
  	form of religion, the pagan slanderers affirmed that
  	Christians took their infants to a place of worship in
24	order to offer them in sacrifice, — a baptism not of
  	water but of blood, thus distorting or misapprehending
  	the purpose of Christian sacraments. Christians met
27	in midnight feasts in the early days, and talked of the
  	crucified Saviour; thence arose the rumor that it was
  	a part of Christian worship to kill and eat a human
30	being. 
  	    Really, Christianity turned men away from the thought
  	of fleshly sacrifice, and directed them to spiritual attain-
 
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  Miscellaneous Writings --- True Philosophy and Communion                 

 1	ments. Life, not death, was and is the very centre of
  	its faith. Christian Science carries this thought even
 3	higher, and insists on the demonstration of moral and
  	spiritual healing as eminent proof that God is understood
  	and illustrated. 

 6	ORIGIN OF EVIL 

  	    The origin of evil is the problem of ages. It confronts
  	each generation anew. It confronts Christian Science. 
 9	The question is often asked, If God created only the
  	good, whence comes the evil? 
  	    To this... question Christian Science replies:  Evil never
12	did exist as an entity. It is but a belief that there is an
  	opposite intelligence to God. This belief is a species of
  	idolatry, and is not more true or real than that an image
15	graven on wood or stone is God. 
  	    The mortal admission of the reality of evil perpetuates
  	faith in evil; and the Scriptures declare that "to whom
18	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
21	unreal, needs to be grasped in all its divine requirements. 

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 repeat error unless it becomes requisite to bring out Truth. Then lift the curtain, let in the light, and counter...mand this first command of Solomon, "Answer not a fool according 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 open space. 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 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 natures, advise me. One says, Go this way; the other 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 enter the path. It may be smooth, or it may be rugged; but it is always straight and narrow; and if it be uphill all the way, the ascent is easy and the summit can be gained. 

God is responsible for the mission of those whom He 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 1898. Loyal Scientists are targets for envy, rivalry, slander; and whoever hits this mark is well paid by the umpire. But the Scientists aim highest. They press forward towards the mark of a high calling. They recognize 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 with hearts overflowing with love for God, they help on the brotherhood of men. It is not mine but Thine they seek. 

 When God 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. "Nothing is hid that shall not be revealed." It is only a question of time when God shall reveal His rod, and show the plan of battle. Error, left to itself, accumulates. Hence, Solomon's transverse command: "Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in 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), capsicum (red pepper); though every day, and especially at dinner, I indulge in homoeopathic doses of Natrum muriaticum (common salt). 

When I found myself under this new regime of medicine, the medicine of Mind, I wanted to satisfy my curiosity as to the effect of drugs on one who had lost all 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 Massachusetts Metaphysical College to enter medical schools, and afterwards denied this and objected to their entering those schools. A student who consulted me on this subject, received my consent and even the offer of pecuniary assistance to take lessons outside of my College, provided he received these lessons of a certain regular-school physician, whose instructions included about twelve lessons, three weeks' time, and the surgical part of midwifery. I 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. 

This student had taken the above-named course in obstetrics when he consulted me on the feasibility of entering 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 so, that, notwithstanding my objection, he should do as he deemed best, for I claim no jurisdiction over any students. He entered the medical school, and several other students with him. My counsel to all of them was in substance the same as the foregoing, and some of these students have openly acknowledged this. 

In answer to a question on the following subject, I will state that I preached four years, and built up the church, before I would accept the slightest remuneration. When the church had sufficient members and means to pay a salary, and refused to give me up or to receive my gratuitous services, I accepted, for a time, fifteen dollars each Sunday when I preached. I never received more than this; and the contributions, when I preached, doubled that amount. I have accepted no pay from my church for about three years, and believe that I have put into the church-fund about two thousand dollars of my own contributions. I hold receipts for $1,489.50 paid in, and the balance was never receipted for. 

I temporarily organized a secret society known as the P. M., the workings whereof were not "terrible and too shocking to relate." By and with advice of the very student who brings up the question of this society, it was formed. The P. M. (Private Meeting) Society met only twice. The first subject given out for consideration was this: "There is no Animal Magnetism." There was no advice given, no mental work, and there were no transactions at those meetings which I would hesitate to have known. On the contrary, our deliberations were, as usual, Christian, and like my public instruction. 

The second P. M. convened in about one week from the first. The subject given out at that meeting was, in substance, "God is All; there is none beside Him." This proved to be our last meeting. I dissolved the society, and we have not met since. If harm could come from the consideration of these two topics, it was because of the misconception of those subjects in the mind that handled them. An individual state of mind sometimes occasions effects on patients which are not in harmony with Science and the soundness of the argument used. 

Hence it prevents the normal action, and the benefit that would otherwise accrue. 

I issue no arguments, and cause none to be used in mental practice, which consign people to suffering. On the contrary, I cannot serve two masters; therefore I teach the use of such arguments only as promote health and spiritual growth. My life, consecrated to humanity through nameless suffering and sacrifice, furnishes its own proof of my practice. I have sometimes called on students to test their ability and meet the mental malpractice, so as to lift the burdens imposed by students. 

The fact is, that for want of time, and for the purpose of blessing even my enemies, I neglect myself. I never have practiced by arguments which, perverted, are the weapons of the silent mental malpractice. I have no skill in occultism; and I could not if I would, and would not if I could, harm any one through the mental method of Mind-healing, or in any manner. 

The late much-ado-about-nothing arose solely from mental malicious practice, and the audible falsehood designed to stir up strife between brethren, for the purpose of placing Christian Science in the hands of aspirants for place and power. These repeated attempts of mad ambition may retard our Cause, but they never can place it in the wrong hands and hold it there, nor benefit mankind by such endeavors. 

  	                FALLIBILITY OF HUMAN CONCEPTS 

  	    Evil counterfeits good:  it says, "I am Truth," though
21	it is a lie; it says, "I am Love," — but Love is spirit-
  	ual, and sensuous love is material, wherefore it is hate
  	instead of L...ove; for the five senses give to mortals pain,
24	sickness, sin, and death, — pleasure that is false, life that
  	leads unto death, joy that becomes sorrow. Love that is
  	not the procurator of happiness, declares itself the anti-
27	pode of Love; and Love divine punishes the joys of this
  	false sense of love, chastens its affection, purifies it, and
  	turns it into the opposite channels. 
30	    Material life is the antipode of spiritual life; it mocks
 
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 1	the bliss of spiritual being; it is bereft of permanence and
  	peace. 
 3	    When human sense is quickened to behold aright the
  	error, — the error of regarding Life, Truth, Love as
  	material and not spiritual, or as both material and spir-
 6	itual, — it is able for the first time to discern the Science
  	of good. But it must first see the error of its present
  	erroneous course, to be able to behold the facts of Truth
 9	outside of the error; and, vice versa, when it discovers
  	the truth, this uncovers the error and quickens the true
  	consciousness of God, good. May the human shadows of
12	thought lengthen as they approach the light, until they
  	are lost in light and no night is there! 
  	    In Science, sickness is healed upon the same Principle
15	and by the same rule that sin is healed. To know the
  	supposed bodily belief of the patient and what has claimed
  	to produce it, enables the practitioner to act more under-
18	standingly in destroying this belief. Thus it is in heal-
  	ing the moral sickness; the malicious mental operation
  	must be understood in order to enable one to destroy
21	it and its effects. There is not sufficient spiritual power
  	in the human thought to heal the sick or the sinful. 
  	Through the divine energies alone one must either get
24	out of himself and into God so far that his consciousness
  	is the reflection of the divine, or he must, through argu-
  	ment and the human consciousness of both evil and good,
27	overcome evil. 
  	    The only difference between the healing of sin and the
  	healing of sickness is, that sin must be uncovered before
30	it can be destroyed, and the moral sense be aroused to
  	reject the sense of error; while sickness must be cov-
  	ered with the veil of harmony, and the consciousness be
 
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 1	allowed to rejoice in the sense that it has nothing to mourn
  	over, but something to forget. 
 3	    Human concepts run in extremes; they are like the
  	action of sickness, which is either an excess of action or
  	not action enough; they are fallible; they are neither
 6	standards nor models. 
  	    If one asks me, Is my concept of you right? I reply, The
  	human concept is always imperfect; relinquish your human
 9	concept of me, or of any one, and find the divine, and you
  	have gained the right one — and never until then. People
  	give me too much attention of the misguided, fallible sort,
12	and this misrepresents one through malice or ignorance. 
  	    My brother was a manufacturer; and one day a work-
  	man in his mills, a practical joker, set a man who applied
15	for work, in the overseer's absence, to pour a bucket of
  	water every ten minutes on the regulator. When my
  	brother returned and saw it, he said to the jester, "You
18	must pay that man." Some people try to tend folks, as
  	if they should steer the regulator of mankind. God makes
  	us pay for tending the action that He adjusts. 
21	    The regulator is governed by the principle that makes
  	the machinery work rightly; and because it is thus gov-
  	erned, the folly of tending it is no mere jest. The divine
24	Principle carries on His harmony. 
  	    Now turn from the metaphor of the mill to the Mother's
  	four thousand children, most of whom, at about three
27	years of scientific age, set up housekeeping alone. Certain
  	students, being too much interested in themselves to think
  	of helping others, go their way. They do not love Mother,
30	but pretend to; they constantly go to her for help, interrupt
  	the home-harmony, criticise and disobey her; then "return
  	to their vomit," — world worship, pleasure seeking, and
 
  Miscellaneous Writings --- Fallibility of Human Concepts           
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 1	sense indulgence, — meantime declaring they "never dis-
  	obey Mother"! It exceeds my conception of human
 3	nature. Sin in its very nature is marvellous! Who but a
  	moral idiot, sanguine of success in sin, can steal, and lie
  	and lie, and lead the innocent to doom? History needs it,
 6	and it has the grandeur of the loyal, self-forgetful, faith-
  	ful Christian Scientists to overbalance this foul stuff. 
  	    When the Mother's love can no longer promote peace
 9	in the family, wisdom is not "justified of her children." 
  	When depraved reason is preferred to revelation, error
  	to Truth, and evil to good, and sense seems sounder than
12	Soul, the children are tending the regulator; they are
  	indeed losing the knowledge of the divine Principle and
  	rules of Christian Science, whose fruits prove the nature
15	of their source. A little more grace, a motive made pure,
  	a few truths tenderly told, a heart softened, a character
  	subdued, a life consecrated, would restore the right action
18	of the mental mechanism, and make manifest the move-
  	ment of body and soul in accord with God. 
  	    Instead of relying on the Principle of all that really
21	exists, — to govern His own creation, — self-conceit, igno-
  	rance, and pride would regulate God's action. Expe-
  	rience shows that humility is the first step in Christian
24	Science, wherein all is controlled, not by man or laws
  	material, but by wisdom, Truth, and Love. 

  	    Go gaze on the eagle, his eye on the sun,
27	    Fast gathering strength for a flight well begun,
  	    As rising he rests in a liberty higher
  	    Than genius inflated with worldly desire. 

30	    No tear dims his eye, nor his pinions lose power
  	    To gaze on the lark in her emerald bower — 
  	    Whenever he soareth to fashion his nest,
33	    No vision more bright than the dream in his breast. 

 1	THE WAY 

  	    The present stage of progress in Christian Science pre-
 3	sents two opposite aspects, — a full-orbed promise, and
  	a gaunt want. The need, however, is not of the letter,
  	but the spirit. 
 6	    Less teaching and good... healing is to-day the acme of
  	"well done;" a healing that is not guesswork, — chronic
  	recovery ebbing and flowing, — but instantaneous cure. 
 9	This absolute demonstration of Science must be revived. 
  	To consummate this desideratum, mortal mind must pass
  	through three stages of growth. 
12	    First, self-knowledge. The physician must know him-
  	self and understand the mental state of his patient. Error
  	found out is two-thirds destroyed, and the last third
15	pierces itself, for the remainder only stimulates and gives
  	scope to higher demonstration. To strike out right and
  	left against the mist, never clears the vision; but to lift
18	your head above it, is a sovereign panacea. Mental dark-
  	ness is senseless error, neither intelligence nor power, and
  	its victim is responsible for its supposititious presence. 
21	"Cast the beam out of thine own eye." Learn what in
  	thine own mentality is unlike "the anointed," and cast
  	it out; then thou wilt discern the error in thy patient's
24	mind that makes his body sick, and remove it, and rest
  	like the dove from the deluge. 
  	    "Physician, heal thyself." Let no clouds of sin gather
27	and fall in mist and showers from thine own mental
  	atmosphere. Hold thy gaze to the light, and the iris of
  	faith, more beautiful than the rainbow seen from my
30	window at the close of a balmy autumnal day, will span
  	thy heavens of thought. 
 
  Miscellaneous Writings --- The Way                                           
  page 356

 1	    A radiant sunset, beautiful as blessings when they take
  	their flight, dilates and kindles into rest. Thus will a
 3	life corrected illumine its own atmosphere with spiritual
  	glow and understanding. 
  	    The pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible
 6	detonation to free them. Envy, rivalry, hate need no
  	temporary indulgence that they be destroyed through
  	suffering; they should be stifled from lack of air and
 9	freedom. 
  	    My students, with cultured intellects, chastened affec-
  	tions, and costly hopes, give promise of grand careers. 
12	But they must remember that the seedtime is passed,
  	the harvest hour has come; and songs should ascend
  	from the mount of revelation, sweeter than the sound of
15	vintage bells. 
  	    The seed of Christian Science, which when sown was
  	"the least of all seeds," has sprung up, borne fruit, and
18	the birds of the air, the uplifted desires of the human
  	heart, have lodged in its branches. Now let my faithful
  	students carry the fruit of this tree into the rock-ribbed
21	nests of the raven's callow brood. 
  	    The second stage of mental development is humility. 
  	This virtue triumphs over the flesh; it is the genius of
24	Christian Science. One can never go up, until one has
  	gone down in his own esteem. Humility is lens and
  	prism to the understanding of Mind-healing; it must be
27	had to understand our textbook; it is indispensable to
  	personal growth, and points out the chart of its divine
  	Principle and rule of practice. 
30	    Cherish humility, "watch," and "pray without ceas-
  	ing," or you will miss the way of Truth and Love. Hu-
  	mility is no busybody:  it has no moments for trafficking
 
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 1	in other people's business, no place for envy, no time for
  	idle words, vain amusements, and all the et cetera of the
 3	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
 6	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-
 9	ness that is above the present status of religion and be-
  	yond the walks of common life, quite on the verge of
  	heaven. Without the cross and healing, Christianity has
12	no central emblem, no history. 
  	    The seeds of Truth fall by the wayside, on artless
  	listeners. They fall on stony ground and shallow soil. 
15	The fowls of the air pick them up. Much of what has
  	been sown has withered away, but what remaineth has
  	fallen into the good and honest hearts and is bearing
18	fruit. 
  	    The third stage of mental growth is manifested in love,
  	the greatest of all stages and states of being; love that
21	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
24	recommend them, should receive full fellowship from us,
  	no matter who has taught them. If they have been taught
  	wrongly, they are not morally responsible for this, and
27	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
30	and point the way. 
  	    Divine Love is the substance of Christian Science, the
  	basis of its demonstration, yea, its foundation and super-
 
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 1	structure. Love impels good works. Love is greatly
  	needed, and must be had to mark the way in divine
 3	Science. 
  	    The student who heals by teaching and teaches by
  	healing, will graduate under divine honors, which are
 6	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
 9	tardy justice, hounded footsteps, false laurels. God
  	alone is his help, his shield and great reward. He that
  	seeketh aught besides God, loseth in Life, Truth, and
12	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,
15	and love are divine strength. Christ's vestures are put
  	on only when mortals are "washed in the blood of the
  	Lamb;" we must walk in the way which Jesus marked
18	out, if we would reach the heaven-crowned summit of
  	Christian Science. 
  	    Be it understood that I do not require Christian Sci-
21	entists to stop teaching, to dissolve their organizations,
  	or to desist from organizing churches and associations. 
  	    The Massachusetts Metaphysical College, the first
24	and only College for teaching Christian Science Mind-
  	healing, after accomplishing the greatest work of the
  	ages, and at the pinnacle of prosperity, is closed. Let
27	Scientists who have grown to self-sacrifice do their
  	present work, awaiting, with staff in hand, God's
  	commands. 
30	    When students have fulfilled all the good ends of
  	organization, and are convinced that by leaving the
  	material forms thereof a higher spiritual unity is won,
 
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 1	then is the time to follow the example of the Alma Mater. 
  	Material organization is requisite in the beginning; but
 3	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-
 6	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
 9	child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:  but
  	when I became a man, I put away childish things. For
  	now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to
12	face." Growth is restricted by forcing humanity out of
  	the proper channels for development, or by holding it in
  	fetters. 
15	    For Jesus to walk the water was scientific, insomuch
  	as he was able to do this; but it is neither wisdom nor
  	Science for poor humanity to step upon the Atlantic until
18	we can walk on the water. 
  	    Peter's impetuosity was rebuked. He had to learn
  	from experience; so have we. The methods of our
21	Master were in advance of the period in which he per-
  	sonally appeared; but his example was right, and is
  	available at the right time. The way is absolute divine
24	Science:  walk ye in it; but remember that Science is
  	demonstrated by degrees, and our demonstration rises
  	only as we rise in the scale of being. 

27	SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY 

  	    Men give counsel; but they give not the wisdom to
  	profit by it. To ask wisdom of God, is the beginning of
30	wisdom. 
 
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 1	    Me...ekness, moderating human desire, inspires wisdom
  	and procures divine power. Human lives are yet un-
 3	carved, — in the rough marble, encumbered with crude,
  	rude fragments, and awaiting the hammering, chiselling,
  	and transfiguration from His hand. 
 6	    Great only as good, because fashioned divinely, were
  	those unpretentious yet colossal characters, Paul and
  	Jesus. Theirs were modes of mind cast in the moulds
 9	of Christian Science:  Paul's, by the supremely natural
  	transforming power of Truth; and the character of
  	Jesus, by his original scientific sonship with God. Phi-
12	losophy never has produced, nor can it reproduce, these
  	stars of the first magnitude — fixed stars in the heavens
  	of Soul. When shall earth be crowned with the true
15	knowledge of Christ? 
  	    When Christian Science has melted away the cloud of
  	false witnesses; and the dews of divine grace, fall-
18	ing upon the blighted flowers of fleeting joys, shall
  	lift every thought-leaflet Spiritward; and "Israel after
  	the flesh," who partaketh of its own altars, shall be
21	no more, — then, "the Israel according to Spirit"
  	shall fill earth with the divine energies, understanding,
  	and ever-flowing tides of spiritual sensation and con-
24	sciousness. 
  	    When mortal mind is silenced by the "still, small voice"
  	of Truth that regenerates philosophy and logic; and
27	Jesus, as the true idea of Him, is heard as of yore saying
  	to sensitive ears and dark disciples, "I came from the
  	Father," "Before Abraham was, I am," coexistent and
30	coeternal with God, — and this idea is understood, — 
  	then will the earth be filled with the true knowledge of
  	Christ. No advancing modes of human mind made
 
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 1	Jesus; rather was it their subjugation, and the pure
  	heart that sees God. 
 3	    When the belief in material origin, mortal mind, sen-
  	sual conception, dissolves through self-imposed suffering,
  	and its substances are found substanceless, — then its
 6	miscalled life ends in death, and death itself is swallowed
  	up in Life, — spiritual Life, whose myriad forms are
  	neither material nor mortal. 
 9	    When every form and mode of evil disappear to hu-
  	man thought, and mollusk and radiate are spiritual con-
  	cepts testifying to one creator, — then, earth is full of
12	His glory, and Christian Science has overshadowed all
  	human philosophy, and being is understood in startling
  	contradiction of human hypotheses; and Socrates, Plato,
15	Kant, Locke, Berkeley, Tyndall, Darwin, and Spencer
  	sit at the feet of Jesus. 
  	    To this great end, Paul admonished, "Let us lay aside
18	every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,
  	and let us run with patience the race that is set before
  	us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
21	faith." So shall mortals soar to final freedom, and rest
  	from the subtlety of speculative wisdom and human
  	woe. 
24	    God is the only Mind, and His manifestation is the
  	spiritual universe, including man and all eternal indi-
  	viduality. God, the only substance and divine Principle
27	of creation, is by no means a creative partner in the firm
  	of error, named matter, or mortal mind. He elucidates
  	His own idea, wherein Principle and idea, God and man,
30	are not one, but are inseparable as cause and effect. If
  	one, who could say which that "one" was? 
  	    His ways are not as our ways. The divine modes
 
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 1	and manifestations are not those of the material senses;
  	for instance, intelligent matter, or mortal mind, material
 3	birth, growth, and decay:  they are the forever-existing
  	realities of divine Science; wherein God and man are
  	perfect, and man's reason is at rest in God's wisdom, — 
 6	who comprehends and reflects all real mode, form, indi-
  	viduality, identity. 
  	    Scholastic dogma has made men blind. Christ's logos
 9	gives sight to these blind, ears to these deaf, feet to these
  	lame, — physically, morally, spiritually. Theologians
  	make the mortal mistake of believing that God, having
12	made all, made evil; but the Scriptures declare that all
  	that He made was good. Then, was evil part and parcel
  	of His creation? 
15	    Philosophy hypothetically regards creation as its own
  	creator, puts cause into effect, and out of nothing would
  	create something, whose noumenon is mortal mind,
18	with its phenomenon matter, — an evil mind already
  	doomed, whose modes are material manifestations of
  	evil, and that continually, until self-extinguished by
21	suffering! 
  	    Here revelation must come to the rescue of mortals,
  	to remove this mental millstone that is dragging them
24	downward, and refute erring reason with the spiritual
  	cosmos and Science of Soul. We all must find shelter
  	from the storm and tempest in the tabernacle of Spirit. 
27	Truth is won through Science or suffering:  O vain mor-
  	tals! which shall it be? And suffering has no reward,
  	except when it is necessary to prevent sin or reform
30	the sinner. And pleasure is no crime except when it
  	strengthens the influence of bad inclinations or lessens
  	the activities of virtue. The more nearly an erring so-
 
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 1	called mind approaches purity, the more conscious it
  	becomes of its own unreality, and of the great reality of
 3	divine Mind and true happiness. 
  	    The "ego" that claims selfhood in error, and passes
  	from molecule and monkey up to man, is no ego, but is
 6	simply the supposition that the absence of good is mind
  	and makes men, — when its greatest flatterer, identifica-
  	tion, is piqued by Him who compensateth vanity with
 9	nothingness, dust with dust! 
  	    The mythology of evil and mortality is but the ma-
  	terial mode of a suppositional mind; while the immortal
12	modes of Mind are spiritual, and pass through none of
  	the changes of matter, or evil. Truth said, and said from
  	the beginning, "Let us [Spirit] make man perfect;" and
15	there is no other Maker:  a perfect man would not desire
  	to make himself imperfect, and God is not chargeable
  	with imperfection. His modes declare the beauty of holi-
18	ness, and His manifold wisdom shines through the visible
  	world in glimpses of the eternal verities. Even through
  	the mists of mortality is seen the brightness of His
21	coming. 
  	    We must avoid the shoals of a sensual religion or
  	philosophy that misguides reason and affection, and
24	hold fast to the Principle of Christian Science as the
  	Word that is God, Spirit, and Truth. This Word cor-
  	rects the philosopher, confutes the astronomer, exposes
27	the subtle sophist, and drives diviners mad. The Bible
  	is the learned man's masterpiece, the ignorant man's
  	dictionary, the wise man's directory. 
30	    I foresee and foresay that every advancing epoch of
  	Truth will be characterized by a more spiritual appre-
  	hension of the Scriptures, that will show their marked
  
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1	consonance with the textbook of Christian Science Mind-
  	healing, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." 
 3	Interpreting the Word in the "new tongue," whereby
  	the sick are healed, naturally evokes new paraphrase
  	from the world of letters. "Wait patiently on the Lord,
 6	and He will renew your strength." In return for indi-
  	vidual sacrifice, what a recompense to have healed, through
  	Truth, the sick and sinful, made the public your friend,
 9	and posterity your familiar! 
  	    Christian Science refutes everything that is not a
  	postulate of the divine Principle, God. It is the soul of
12	divine philosophy, and there is no other philosophy. It
  	is not a search after wisdom, it is wisdom:  it is God's
  	right hand grasping the universe, — all time, space,
15	immortality, thought, extension, cause, and effect; con-
  	stituting and governing all identity, individuality, law,
  	and power. It stands on this Scriptural platform:
18	that He made all that was made, and it is good, reflects
  	the divine Mind, is governed by it; and that nothing
  	apart from this Mind, one God, is self-created or evolves
21	the universe. 
  	    Human hypotheses predicate matter of Spirit and
  	evil of good; hence these opposites must either cooperate
24	or quarrel throughout time and eternity, — or until
  	this impossible partnership is dissolved. If Spirit is the
  	lawgiver to matter, and good has the same power or
27	modes as evil, it has the same consciousness, and there
  	is no absolute good. This error, carried to its ultimate,
  	would either extinguish God and His modes, or give
30	reality and power to evil ad infinitum. 
  	    Christian Science rends this veil of the temple of gods,
  	and reproduces the divine philosophy of Jesus and Paul. 
 
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 1	This philosophy alone will bear the strain of time and
  	bring out the glories of eternity; for "other founda-
 3	tion can no man lay than that is laid," which is Christ,
  	Truth. 
  	    Human theories weighed in the balances of God are
 6	found wanting; and their highest endeavors are to Science
  	what a child's love of pictures is to art. The school whose
  	schoolmaster is not Christ, gets things wrong, and is igno-
 9	rant thereof. 
  	    If Christian Science lacked the proof of its goodness
  	and utility, it would destroy itself; for it rests alone on
12	demonstration. Its genius is right thinking and right
  	acting, physical and moral harmony; and the secret of
  	its success lies in supplying the universal need of better
15	health and better men. 
  	    Good health and a more spiritual religion form the
  	common want, and this want has worked out a moral
18	result; namely, that mortal mind is calling for what im-
  	mortal Mind alone can supply. If the uniform moral
  	and spiritual, as well as physical, effects of divine Science
21	were lacking, the demand would diminish; but it con-
  	tinues, and increases, which shows the real value of
  	Christian Science to the race. Even doctors agree that
24	infidelity, bigotry, or sham has never met the growing
  	wants of humanity. 
  	    As a literature, Christian metaphysics is hampered by
27	lack of proper terms in which to express what it means. 
  	As a Science, it is held back by the common ignorance
  	of what it is and of what it does, — and more than all
30	else, by the impostors that come in its name. To be
  	appreciated, it must be conscientiously understood and
  	introduced. 
 
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 1	    If the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the
  	Scriptures" had in our schools the time or attention that
 3	human hypotheses consume, they would advance the
  	world. True, it requires more study to understand and
  	demonstrate what they teach than to learn the doctrine
 6	of theology, philosophy, or physics, because they con-
  	tain and offer Science, with fixed Principle, given rule,
  	and unmistakable proof. 
 9	    The Scriptures give the keynote of Christian Science
  	from Genesis to Revelation, and this is the prolonged
  	tone: "For the Lord He is God, and there is
12	none beside Him." And because He is All-in-all,
  	He is in nothing unlike Himself; and nothing that
  	worketh or maketh a lie is in Him, or can be divine con-
15	sciousness. 
  	    At this date, poor jaded humanity needs to get her
  	eyes open to a new style of imposition in the field of
18	medicine and of religion, and to "beware of the leaven
  	of the scribes and Pharisees," the doctrines of men, even
  	as Jesus admonished. From first to last, evil insists on
21	the unity of good and evil as the purpose of God; and
  	on drugs, electricity, and animal magnetism as modes
  	of medicine. To a greater or less extent, all mortal con-
24	clusions start from this false premise, and they neces-
  	sarily culminate in sickness, sin, disease, and death. 
  	Erroneous doctrines never have abated and never will
27	abate dishonesty, self-will, envy, and lust. To destroy
  	sin and its sequence, is the office of Christ, Truth, — ac-
  	cording to His mode of Christian Science; and this is
30	being done daily. 
  	    The false theories whose names are legion, gilded with
  	sophistry and what Jesus had not, namely, mere book-
 
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 1	learning, — letter without law, gospel, or demonstration,
  	 — have no place in Christian Science. This Science re-
 3	quires man to be honest, just, pure; to love his neighbor
  	as himself, and to love God supremely. 
  	    Matter and evil are subjective states of error or mortal
 6	mind. But Mind is immortal; and the fact of there
  	being no mortal mind, exposes the lie of suppositional
  	evil, showing that error is not Mind, substance, or
 9	Life. Thus, whatever is wrongfully-minded will dis-
  	appear in the proportion that Science is understood,
  	and the reality of being — goodness and harmony — is
12	demonstrated. 
  	    Error says that knowing all things implies the neces-
  	sity of knowing evil, that it dishonors God to claim that
15	He is ignorant of anything; but God says of this fruit
  	of the tree of knowledge of both good and evil, "In the
  	day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." If
18	God is infinite good, He knows nothing but good; if He
  	did know aught else, He would not be infinite. Infinite
  	Mind knows nothing beyond Himself or Herself. To
21	good, evil is never present; for evil is a different state of
  	consciousness. It was not against evil, but against know-
  	ing evil, that God forewarned. He dwelleth in light;
24	and in the light He sees light, and cannot see darkness. 
  	The opposite conclusion, that darkness dwelleth in light,
  	has neither precedent nor foundation in nature, in logic,
27	or in the character of Christ. 
  	    The senses would say that whatever saves from sin,
  	must know sin. Truth replies that God is too pure
30	to behold iniquity; and by virtue of His ignorance of
  	that which is not, He knoweth that which is, and
  	abideth in Himself, the only Life, Truth, and Love,
 
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 1	 — and is reflected by a universe in His own image
  	and likeness. 
 3	    Even so, Father, let the light that shineth in dark-
  	ness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not, dispel this
  	illusion of the senses, open the eyes of the blind, and cause
 6	the deaf to hear. 
  	 "Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne.  
  	 Yet that scaffold sways the future, and, behind the dim unknown,
 9	 Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own." 
  	                                                                                                LOWELL

"TAKE HEED!" 

12	    We regret to be obliged to say that all are not meta-
  	physicians, or Christian Scientists, who call themselves
  	so. Charlatanism, fraud, and malice are getting into
15	the ranks of the good and pure, sending forth a po...ison
  	more deadly than the upas-tree in the eastern archi-
  	pelago. This evil obtains in the present false teaching
18	and false practice of the Science of treating disease through
  	Mind. The silent address of a mental malpractitioner
  	can only be portrayed in these words of the apostle,
21	"whisperers," and "the poison of asps is under their
  	tongue." 
  	    Some of the mere puppets of the hour are playing
24	only for money, and at a fearful stake. Others, from
  	malice and envy, are working out the destinies of the
  	damned. But while the best, perverted, on the mortal
27	plane may become the worst, let us not forget that the
  	Lord reigns, and that this earth shall some time rejoice
  	in His supreme rule, — that the tired watchmen on the
 
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 1	walls of Zion, and the true Christian Scientist at the foot
  	of the mount of revelation, shall look up with shouts and
 3	thanksgiving, — that God's law, as in divine Science,
  	shall be finally understood; and the gospel of glad tidings
  	bring "on earth peace, good will toward men." 

 6	                     THE CRY OF CHRISTMAS-TIDE 

  	    Metaphysics, not physics, enables us to stand erect
  	on sublime heights, surveying the immeasurable universe
 9	of Mind, peering into the cause which governs all effects,
  	while we are st...rong in the unity of God and man. There
  	is "method" in the "madness" of this system, — since
12	madness it seems to many onlookers. This method sits
  	serene at the portals of the temple of thought, while
  	the leaders of materialistic schools indulge in mad
15	antics. Metaphysical healing seeks a wisdom that is
  	higher than a rhubarb tincture or an ipecacuanha pill. 
  	This method is devout enough to trust Christ more than
18	it does drugs. 
  	    Meekly we kneel at our Master's feet, for even a crumb
  	that falleth from his table. We are hungry for Love,
21	for the white-winged charity that heals and saves; we
  	are tired of theoretic husks, — as tired as was the prodi-
  	gal son of the carobs which he shared with the swine,
24	to whom he fed that wholesome but unattractive food. 
  	Like him, we would find our Father's house again — 
  	the perfect and eternal Principle of man. We thirst
27	for inspiring wine from the vine which our Father tends. 
  	We crave the privilege of saying to the sick, when their
 
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 1	feebleness calls for help, "Rise and walk." We rejoice
  	to say, in the spirit of our Master, "Stretch forth thy
 3	hand, and be whole!" 
  	    When the Pharisees saw Jesus do such deeds of mercy,
  	they went away and took counsel how they might remove
 6	him. The antagonistic spirit of evil is still abroad; but
  	the greater spirit of Christ is also abroad, — risen from
  	the grave-clothes of tradition and the cave of ignorance. 
 9	Let the sentinels of Zion's watch-towers shout once
  	again, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is
  	given." 
12	    In different ages the divine idea assumes different
  	forms, according to humanity's needs. In this age it
  	assumes, more intelligently than ever before, the form
15	of Christian healing. This is the babe we are to cherish. 
  	This is the babe that twines its loving arms about the
  	neck of omnipotence, and calls forth infinite care from
18	His loving heart. 

BLIND LEADERS 

  	    What figure is less favorable than a wolf in sheep's
21	clothing? The braying donkey whose ears stick out is
  	less troublesome. What manner of man is it that has
  	discovered an improvement on Christian Science, a "met-...
24	aphysical healing" by which error destroys error, and
  	would gather all sorts into a "national convention" by
  	the sophistry that such is the true fold for Christian heal-
27	ers, since the good shepherd cares for all? 
  	    Yes; the good Shepherd does care for all, and His
  	first care is to separate the sheep from the goats; and

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 1	this is among the first lessons on healing taught by our
  	great Master. 
 3	    If, as the gentleman aforesaid states, large flocks of
  	metaphysicians are wandering about without a leader,
  	what has opened his eyes to see the need of taking them
 6	out of the care of the great Shepherd, and behold the
  	remedy, to help them by his own leadership? Is it that
  	he can guide Christian Scientists better than they, through
 9	the guidance of our common Father, can guide them-
  	selves? or is it that they are incapable of helping them-
  	selves thus? 
12	    I as their teacher can say, They know far more of
  	Christian Science than he who deprecates their condition
  	appears to, and my heart pleads for them to possess
15	more and more of Truth and Love; but mixing all grades
  	of persons is not productive of the better sort, although
  	he who has self-interest in this mixing is apt to pro-
18	pose it. 
  	    Whoever desires to say, "good right, and good wrong,"
  	has no truth to defend. It is a wise saying that "men
21	are known by their enemies." To sympathize in any
  	degree with error, is not to rectify it; but error always
  	strives to unite, in a definition of purpose, with Truth,
24	to give it buoyancy. What is under the mask, but error
  	in borrowed plumes? 

"CHRIST AND CHRISTMAS" 

27	                                    An Illustrated Poem 

  	    This poem and its illustrations are as hopelessly origi-
  	nal as is "Science and Health with Key to the Scrip-
      
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  page 372

 1	tures." When the latter was first issued, critics declared
  	that it was incorrect, contradictory, unscientific, unchris-
 3	tian; but those human opinions had not one feather's
  	weight in the scales of God. The fact remains, that
  	the textbook of Christian Science is transforming the
 6	universe. 
  	    "Christ and Christmas" voices Christian Science
  	through song and object-lesson. In two weeks from the
 9	date of its publication in December, 1893, letters extoll-
  	ing it were pouring in from artists and poets. A mother
  	wrote, "Looking at the pictures in your wonderful book
12	has healed my child." 
  	    Knowing that this book would produce a stir, I sought
  	the judgment of sound critics familiar with the works
15	of masters in France and Italy. From them came such
  	replies as the following: "The illustrations of your poem
  	are truly a work of art, and the artist seems quite familiar
18	with delineations from the old masters." I am delighted
  	to find "Christ and Christmas" in accord with the
  	ancient and most distinguished artists. 
21	    The Christian Science Journal gives no uncertain dec-
  	laration concerning the spirit and mission of "Christ and
  	Christmas." 
24	    I aimed to reproduce, with reverent touch, the modest
  	glory of divine Science. Not by aid of foreign device
  	or environment could I copy art, — never having seen
27	the painter's masterpieces; but the art of Christian
  	Science, with true hue and character of the living God,
  	is akin to its Science: and Science and Health gives
30	scopes and shades to the shadows of divinity, thus im-
  	parting to humanity the true sense of meekness and
  	might. 
 
  Miscellaneous Writings --- “Christ and Christmas                       
  page 373

 1	    One incident serves to illustrate the simple nature of
  	art. 
 3	    I insisted upon placing the serpent behind the woman
  	in the picture "Seeking and Finding." My artist at the
  	easel objected, as he often did, to my sense of Soul's
 6	expression through the brush; but, as usual, he finally
  	yielded. A few days afterward, the following from Roth-
  	erham's translation of the New Testament was handed
 9	to me, — I had never before seen it: "And the serpent
  	cast out of his mouth, behind the woman, water as a
  	river, that he might cause her to be river-borne." Neither
12	material finesse, standpoint, nor perspective guides the
  	infinite Mind and spiritual vision that should, does, guide
  	His children. 
15	    One great master clearly delineates Christ's appear-
  	ing in the flesh, and his healing power, as clad not in
  	soft raiment or gorgeous apparel; and when forced out
18	of its proper channel, as living feebly, in kings' courts. 
  	This master's thought presents a sketch of Christian-
  	ity's state, in the early part of the Christian era, as
21	homelessness in a wilderness. But in due time Chris-
  	tianity entered into synagogues, and, as St. Mark
  	writes, it has rich possession here, with houses and
24	lands. In Genesis we read that God gave man do-
  	minion over all things; and this assurance is followed
  	by Jesus' declaration, "All power is given unto me
27	in heaven and in earth," and by his promise that the
  	Christlike shall finally sit down at the right hand of the
  	Father. 
30	    Christian Science is more than a prophet or a proph-
  	ecy:  it presents not words alone, but works, — the daily
  	demonstration of Truth and Love. Its healing and sav-
      
  Miscellaneous Writings --- “Christ and Christmas                       
  page 374

 1	ing power was so great a proof of Immanuel and the
  	realism of Christianity, that it caused even the publi-
 3	cans to justify God. Although clad in panoply of power,
  	the Pharisees scorned the spirit of Christ in most of its
  	varied manifestations. To them it was cant and carica-
 6	ture, — always the opposite of what it was. Keen and
  	alert was their indignation at whatever rebuked hypocrisy
  	and demanded Christianity in life and religion. In view
 9	of this, Jesus said, "Wisdom is justified of all her
  	children." 
  	    Above the fogs of sense and storms of passion, Chris-
12	tian Science and its art will rise triumphant; ignorance,
  	envy, and hatred — earth's harmless thunder — pluck
  	not their heaven-born wings. Angels, with overtures,
15	hold charge over both, and announce their Principle and
  	idea. 
  	    It is most fitting that Christian Scientists memorize
18	the nativity of Jesus. To him who brought a great light
  	to all ages, and named his burdens light, homage is in-
  	deed due, — but is bankrupt. I never looked on my
21	ideal of the face of the Nazarite Prophet; but the one
  	illustrating my poem approximates it. 
  	    Extremists in every age either doggedly deny or fran-
24	tically affirm what is what:  one renders not unto Caesar
  	"the things that are Caesar's;" the other sees "Helen's
  	beauty in a brow of Egypt." 
27	    Pictures are portions of one's ideal, but this ideal is
  	not one's personality. Looking behind the veil, he that
  	perceives a semblance between the thinker and his thought
30	on canvas, blames him not. 
  	    Because my ideal of an angel is a woman without
  	feathers on her wings, — is it less artistic or less natu-
      
  Miscellaneous Writings --- “Christ and Christmas                       
  page 375

 1	ral? Pictures which present disordered phases of ma-
  	terial conceptions and personality blind with animality,
 3	are not my concepts of angels. What is the material ego,
  	but the counterfeit of the spiritual? 
  	    The truest art of Christian Science is to be a Chris-
 6	tian Scientist; and it demands more than a Raphael to
  	delineate this art. 
  	    The following is an extract from a letter reverting to
 9	the illustrations of "Christ and Christmas": —  
  	    "In my last letter, I did not utter all I felt about the
  	wonderful new book you have given us.  Years ago,
12	while in Italy, I studied the old masters and their great
  	works of art thoroughly, and so got quite an idea of
  	what constitutes true art.  Then I spent two years in
15	Paris, devoting every moment to the study of music and
  	art. 
  	    "The first thing that impressed me in your illustra-
18	tions was the conscientious application to detail, which
  	is the foundation of true art. From that, I went on to
  	study each illustration thoroughly, and to my amazement
21	and delight I find an almost identical resemblance, in
  	many things, to the old masters! In other words, the art
  	is perfect. 
24	    "The hands and feet of the figures — how many times
  	have I seen these hands and feet in Angelico's 'Jesus,'
  	or Botticelli's 'Madonna'! 
27	    "It gave me such a thrill of joy as no words can ex-
  	press, to see produced to-day that art — the only true
  	art — that we have identified with the old masters, and
30	mourned as belonging to them exclusively, — a thing of
  	the past, impossible of reproduction. 
  	    "All that I can say to you, as one who gives no mean
      
  Miscellaneous Writings --- “Christ and Christmas                       
  page 376

 1	attention to such matters, is that the art is perfect.  It
  	is the true art of the oldest, most revered, most authen-
 3	tic Italian school, revived.  I use the words most au-
  	thentic in the following sense:  the face, figure, and
  	drapery of Jesus, very closely resemble in detail the
 6	face, figure, and drapery of that Jesus portrayed by the
  	oldest of the old masters, and said to have been authen-
  	tic; the face having been taken by Fra Angelico from
 9	Caesar's Cameo, the figure and garments from a descrip-
  	tion, in The Galaxy, of a small sketch handed down
  	from the living reality.  Their productions are expres-
12	sionless copies of an engraving cut in a stone.  Yours
  	is a palpitating, living Saviour engraven on the heart.  
  	You have given us back our Jesus, and in a much better
15	form." 

  	                       SUNRISE AT PLEASANT VIEW 

  	    Who shall describe the brave splendor of a November
18	sky that this morning burst through the lattice for me,
  	on my bed? According to terrestrial calculations, above
  	the horizon, in t...he east, there rose one rod of rainbow
21	hues, crowned with an acre of eldritch ebony. Little
  	by little this topmost pall, drooping over a deeply daz-
  	zling sunlight, softened, grew gray, then gay, and glided
24	into a glory of mottled marvels. Fleecy, faint, fairy
  	blue and golden flecks came out on a background of
  	cerulean hue; while the lower lines of light kindled into
27	gold, orange, pink, crimson, violet; and diamond, topaz,
  	opal, garnet, turquoise, and sapphire spangled the gloom
  	in celestial space as with the brightness of His glory. 
30	Then thought I, What are we, that He who fashions for-
      
  Miscellaneous Writings --- “Sunrise at Pleasant View                
  page 377

 1	ever such forms and hues of heaven, should move our
  	brush or pen to paint frail fairness or to weave a web
 3	of words that glow with gladdening gleams of God, so
  	unapproachable, and yet so near and full of radiant relief
  	in clouds and darkness!