0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

WEDLOCK 

  	    It was about the year 1875 that Science and Health
15	first crossed swords with free-love, and the latter fell hors
  	de combat; but the whole warfare of sensuality was not
  	then ended. Science and Health, the book that cast the
18	first stone, is still at work, deep down in human conscious-
  	ness, laying the axe at the root of error. 
  	    We have taken the precaution to write briefly on mar-
21	riage, showing its relation to Christian Science. In the
  	present or future, some extra throe of error may conjure
  	up a new-style conjugality, which, ad libitum, severs the
24	marriage covenant, puts virtue in the shambles, and
  	coolly notifies the public of broken vows. Springing
  	up from the ashes of free-love, this nondescript phoenix,
27	in the face and eyes of common law, common sense, and
  	common honesty, may appear in the role of a superfine
  	conjugality; but, having no Truth, it will have no past,
30	present, or future. 
 
 Miscellaneous Writings --- Wedlock                                            
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 1	    The above prophecy, written years ago, has already
  	been fulfilled. It is seen in Christian Science that the
 3	gospel of marriage is not without the law, and the solemn
  	vow of fidelity, "until death do us part;" this verity in
  	human economy can neither be obscured nor throttled. 
 6	Until time matures human growth, marriage and progeny
  	will continue unprohibited in Christian Science. ...We look
  	to future generations for ability to comply with absolute
 9	Science, when marriage shall be found to be man's one-
  	ness with God, — the unity of eternal Love. At present,
  	more spiritual conception and education of children will
12	serve to illustrate the superiority of spiritual power over
  	sensuous, and usher in the dawn of God's creation,
  	wherein they neither marry nor are given in marriage,
15	but are as the angels. To abolish marriage at this period,
  	and maintain morality and generation, would put inge-
  	nuity to ludicrous shifts; yet this is possible in Science,
18	although it is to-day problematic. 
  	    The time cometh, and now is, for spiritual and eternal
  	existence to be recognized and understood in Science. 
21	All is Mind. Human procreation, birth, life, and death
  	are subjective states of the human erring mind; they
  	are the phenomena of mortality, nothingness, that illus-
24	trate mortal mind and body as one, and neither real nor
  	eternal. 
  	    It should be understood that Spirit, God, is the only
27	creator:  we should recognize this verity of being, and
  	shut out all sense of other claims. Until this absolute
  	Science of being is seen, understood, and demonstrated
30	in the offspring of divine Mind, and man is perfect even
  	as the Father is perfect, human speculation will go on,
  	and stop at length at the spiritual ultimate:  creation
 
 Miscellaneous Writings --- Wedlock                                             
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 1	understood as the most exalted divine conception. The
  	offspring of an improved generation, however, will go out
 3	before the forever fact that man is eternal and has no
  	human origin. Hence the Scripture: "It is He that hath
  	made us, and not we ourselves;" and the Master's de-
 6	mand, "Call no man your father upon the earth:  for one
  	is your Father, which is in heaven." 
  	    To an ill-attuned ear, discord is harmony; so personal
 9	sense, discerning not the legitimate affection of Soul,
  	may place love on a false basis and thereby lose it. Science
  	corrects this error with the truth of Love, and restores
12	lost Eden. Soul is the infinite source of bliss:  only high
  	and holy joy can satisfy immortal cravings. The good
  	in human affections should preponderate over the evil,
15	and the spiritual over the animal, — until progress lifts
  	mortals to discern the Science of mental formation and
  	find the highway of holiness. 
18	    In the order of wisdom, the higher nature of man
  	governs the lower. This lays the foundations of human
  	affection in line with progress, giving them strength and
21	permanence. 
  	    When asked by a wife or a husband important ques-
  	tions concerning their happiness, the substance of my reply
24	is:  God will guide you. Be faithful over home rela-
  	tions; they lead to higher joys:  obey the Golden Rule
  	for human life, and it will spare you much bitterness. 
27	It is pleasanter to do right than wrong; it makes one
  	ruler over one's self and hallows home, — which is woman's
  	world. Please your husband, and he will be apt to please
30	you; preserve affection on both sides. 
  	    Great mischief comes from attempts to steady other
  	people's altars, venturing on valor without discretion,
 
 Miscellaneous Writings --- Wedlock                                             
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 1	which is virtually meddlesomeness. Even your sincere
  	and courageous convictions regarding what is best for
 3	others may be mistaken; you must be demonstratively
  	right yourself, and work out the greatest good to the
  	greatest number, before you are sure of being a fit coun-
 6	sellor. Positive and imperative thoughts should be dropped
  	into the balances of God and weighed by spiritual Love,
  	and not be found wanting, before being put into action. 
 9	A rash conclusion that regards only one side of a ques-
  	tion, is weak and wicked; this error works out the results
  	of error. If the premise of mortal existence is wrong,
12	any conclusion drawn therefrom is not absolutely right. 
  	Wisdom in human action begins with what is nearest
  	right under the circumstances, and thence achieves the
15	absolute. 
  	    Is marriage nearer right than celibacy? 
  	    Human knowledge inculcates that it is, while Science
18	indicates that it is not. But to force the consciousness
  	of scientific being before it is understood is impossible,
  	and believing otherwise would prevent scientific demon-
21	stration. To reckon the universal cost and gain, as well
  	as thine own, is right in every state and stage of being. 
  	The selfish role of a martyr is the shift of a dishonest
24	mind, nothing short of self-seeking; and real suffering
  	would stop the farce. 
  	    The cause of temperance receives a strong impulse
27	from the cause of Christian Science:  temperance and
  	truth are allies, and their cause prospers in proportion
  	to the spirit of Love that nerves the struggle. People
30	will differ in their opinions as to means to promote the
  	ends of temperance; that is, abstinence from intoxicat-
  	ing beverages. Whatever intoxicates a man, stultifies

 Miscellaneous Writings --- Wedlock                                             
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 1	and causes him to degenerate physically and morally. 
  	Strong drink is unquestionably an evil, and evil cannot
 3	be used temperately:  its slightest use is abuse; hence
  	the only temperance is total abstinence. Drunkenness
  	is sensuality let loose, in whatever form it is made
 6	manifest. 
  	    What is evil? It is suppositional absence of good. 
  	From a human standpoint of good, mortals must first
 9	choose between evils, and of two evils choose the less;
  	and at present the application of scientific rules to hu-
  	man life seems to rest on this basis. 
12	    All partnerships are formed on agreements to certain
  	compacts:  each party voluntarily surrenders independ-
  	ent action to act as a whole and per agreement. This
15	fact should be duly considered when by the marriage
  	contract two are made one, and, according to the divine
  	precept, "they twain shall be one flesh." Oneness in
18	spirit is Science, compatible with home and heaven. 
  	Neither divine justice nor human equity has divorced
  	two minds in one. 
21	    Rights that are bargained away must not be retaken
  	by the contractors, except by mutual consent. Human
  	nature has bestowed on a wife the right to become a
24	mother; but if the wife esteems not this privilege, by
  	mutual consent, exalted and increased affections, she
  	may win a higher. Science touches the conjugal ques-
27	tion on the basis of a bill of rights. Can the bill of con-
  	jugal rights be fairly stated by a magistrate, or by a
  	minister? Mutual interests and affections are the spirit
30	of these rights, and they should be consulted, augmented,
  	and allowed to rise to the spiritual altitude whence they
  	can choose only good. 
 
 Miscellaneous Writings --- Wedlock                                             
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 1	    A third person is not a party to the compact of two
  	hearts. Let other people's marriage relations alone: two
 3	persons only, should be found within their precincts. 
  	The nuptial vow is never annulled so long as the animus
  	of the contract is preserved intact. Science lifts humanity
 6	higher in the scale of harmony, and must ultimately break
  	all bonds that hinder progress. 
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