Independent Christian Science articles

Strength And Freedom

From the March 1894 issue of the Christian Science Journal by

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9.

The words of Paul are a comfort to every Christian warrior, and in every stage and degree of demonstration, his experience, patience, and wisdom, is an inspiration to all those who seek the Law of Life. He sets us an example of fortitude, perseverance, and unwavering trust. Through all his afflictions and persecutions he saw nothing but the finger of God pointing to a glorified existence in the revelation of the real.

He relates his troubles in a meek and humble spirit, and counts them all as benefits, blessings, guides, through which spiritual facts are made discernible. He declares, “Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day have I been in the deep.” In perils often in his own country, by the heathen, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren; in weariness, in painfulness, watching, hunger, and thirst, cold and nakedness.

He does not relate these trials in a rebellious, murmuring spirit, or in a way that made a reality of them; but with Christ-like, honest confession he portrays the path through which his bleeding footsteps found the way to the heights of revelation.

Paul’s method of handling error, his manner of exposing it, his ability to speak of it in an impersonal way, points to us a lesson of common sense and humility.

He relates his temptations for the purpose of showing how one can be tested, tried, and persecuted for Christ’s sake. As Christian Scientists, brotherly affection would broaden, if we walked in his footsteps.

But through all his persecutions Paul declared, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Tribulation made him demonstrate until patience became in him a conspicuous quality. Experience showed to him the golden quality of hope, and hope was like a green fir-tree, pointing toward the shore of eternity.

Hope maketh not afraid; with eternity in view, fear vanished, and the glorious warrior for Truth stood bound with the girdle of strength, and proclaimed the law of freedom. Pulling down the strongholds of evil, weakening the citadel of pride, self-will, self-justification and all other mortal self-qualities, his strength was made perfect.

Strength is a life-giving property, and is in Mind only. A knowledge of this made the prophet declare, “My strength is inexhaustible.” Strength is the vigor and vitality of life, and the foundation of all action. It required strength in David to battle with Saul and to gain his victory over Goliath.

It was the strength of divine power that enabled Jesus to bear the cross, roll the stone from the tomb, and appear to the disciples through the wall of materiality. It was the strength of divine Law that was with Paul as he did his work for the disciples, the church, fought the beasts at Ephesus, overcoming prison and peril. The strength of love and wisdom is our shield; we should own this shield, and ever wear it until freedom sounds through every corridor of thought.

What a proof that there is no strength in mortal mind, when we find the body robbed of its supposed vigor, and lying in the clasp of (so called) death! Seeing this gives us a right to declare, there is no strength in matter, no strength in mortal mind; that strength alone is found in Spirit.

Said David, “God is my strength and power.” Strength embodies force, gives energy to purpose, determination to will, puts resolve into action, and brings revelation out of demonstration. The walls of Jericho were encompassed seven times before a belief in the strength of matter yielded to the strength of Spirit; then the shout of Joshua and his soldiers of victory and freedom, was long and loud.

We have but to storm the bulwarks and towers of evil with the trumpet notes of Truth, and the walls of belief will give way to the strong forces of understanding. It is the strength of Love and Life that gives inspiration, and the strength of inspiration that removes the mountains of human belief, and uproots the sycamore trees of material law.

Strength has its vital force in the purity and power of spiritual understanding, and gives ability to heal the sick, cleanse the leper, and raise the dead. Dead to divine Law, human law becomes monitor, because it claims to be master. Looking through the eyes of Science, we see it is the monster of belief; its so-called strength and freedom to do, act, think and talk, must be drowned by the true Monitor, the true Good, in whose strength is an ever-abiding peace.

The powers that be are ordained of God, and their force is in the strength of the Law.

There is strength in unity, strength in obedience, strength in patience, strength in humility, strength in every good and spiritual gift; but there is no strength in matter, and we must not look for it there. The strength of a pure and honest purpose to live, act, and think aright, is “Like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Cowardice and dishonesty are two of the most deadly enemies, and if allowed to roam unrebuked in the consciousness, cause storm, disaster, shipwreck, and weaken our efforts to do good in whatever way we may turn. It is well to look after these intruders, and cut off their subtle work, if we desire the strength and freedom of the substance of Love. Treachery, avarice, and conceit, are three more wily workers that must be ruled out and robbed of their supposed strength, that the strength of divine Principle may be honored, glorified and shine as a jewel in the countenance of man. The true soldier will be strongest when persecution is heaviest, bravest when the problem is hardest, more to be trusted when everything looks the darkest. Looking away from danger, doom, and threat, Job cried, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

Daniel did not flee from the den of lions when he was ordered to enter it and close their mouths. An angel of the Lord came and comforted him. He was strong in the power of Spirit, and his belief in that power, rendered the thing possible, and he wrought such wonders and signs that it was declared there was no God like the God of Daniel. Steady in purpose, honest in endeavor, faithful to Principle, Daniel wrought a great problem, and left the example of obedience and humility, which shows forth the power of his strength.

If we should open the den of lions in our own consciousness, and find doubt, dread, dismay, distrust, disappointment, disease all growling at us, and clogging our footsteps so that we could not heal and teach, did we not obey Spirit which bids us enter in, and destroy their power and ability to bite, we would be yielding to two more deadly lions, cowardice and dishonesty, and thus lose our strength, freedom and birthright.

All of us have these lions either large or small in our personal sense condition. We cannot flee from them, nor will they let go of us until scientifically removed through denying that they have existence or origin.

Jesus plainly shows us how to avoid the broad avenues of weakness, and plant our feet in the narrow path of strength. When the devil saluted him and began his polite whisper of temptation, he instantly met it with the severe rebuke, “Get thee behind me Satan;… for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men,” Immediately strength unfurls her banner and freedom smiles with sweet content.

There is no strength in the argumentative forces of mortal mind. Science declares there is but one Mind, and through the force of divine Mind the law of Being is revealed. Science comes to reveal this power, giving to man this strength, urging him to subdue the body, the earth, climb the Horeb heights of revelation, and become bathed in the sunlight of inspiration.

It is here that weakness and cowardice are known to be a myth. Superstition has taken to itself wings and flown. Strength, with Freedom, becomes our guide through the sweet fields of Eden, and as we listen to these winged messengers, we learn of Love, become educated by Life, and absorb the knowledge of Truth.

This is Principle saying to us through the prophet (Isaiah 52: 1.) “Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for henceforth there shall no more come to thee the uncircumcised and unclean.”

The power invested in the religion of Christian Science to heal diseases and overcome sin, is in the knowledge of the one God, who is Spirit, the denial of matter, the demonstration of its powerlessness, and holding high above the seeming, the proof that the labor of continuous prayer, is the fruit of freedom.

Duty in spiritual things carries us unto the realm of strength. Let us shirk no duty, church or study, class or healing, home or business, liberal giving, honest appreciation of what others do for us, and we shall reap the reward, “Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.”

Let us put our house in order, and make preparation to take higher steps, become better associated with charity, and do our duty, one toward another, so that we may be called dutiful sons and daughters of God.

Fruitfulness

From the Christian Science Journal, December 1892, by

Benediction and blessing are the outflow of demonstration and revelation. Without an understanding of Principle, we can know nothing of God. Without the rule of the Principle, we could not demonstrate a knowledge of God. Without an educated understanding of how to handle the rule of the Principle, we could not pick the jewels from the Rock of Ages; hence we must all be taught of God.

Jesus was a healer, a teacher, and a preacher. So was Paul. It is through the understanding of the Principle and a knowledge of how to use the rule, that we learn how to heal, teach and preach the word of God. It is a noticeable fact that the disciples of Jesus did not preach the Law of Love until they first knew how to heal and teach. The rule is that we first begin to gather the gems of Science through healing; then the footsteps are progressive, and we glean a higher Light through teaching. Rising away from the beliefs of sense thought becomes freer, and we are clothed with the gift of preaching. But the three are one, and they cannot be divided, for as we heal we teach, and as we teach we preach. So the established rule in Science is that no man is called to be a preacher unless he can know his calling to be of God in his ability to heal, teach and preach the word of Life.

It is thus that his discipleship bears the seal of Christ. “Christ has come with healing in his wings,” and “we shall all be taught of God,” is the mandate of the Scripture. It is the medicine of Mind that heals, teaches and preaches; and we find that the Scripture denounces the healing of matter. “Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.” Jer. 46:11. “There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.” Jer. 30: 13. “For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.” Jer. 30:17. “Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.” Jer. 33: 6. Here surely, the promise is fruitful. Turning away from matter to Mind, the prophet cried out, “Heal me O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise” Jer. 17: 14. The 58th chapter of Isaiah treats of the abolition of error, and the lifting from oppression and the yoke; the whole chapter is radiant with promised fruit:—”Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. . . . And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

In the Wisdom of Solomon, Apocrypha Old Testament, 16: 12, we read: “For it was neither herb nor mollifying plaster, that restored thee to health, but thy word O Lord, which healeth all things.” David sends forth a rebuke to error, and commands obedience to Love: “Lean not on the arm of man, but on the arm of God for he healeth all our diseases.”

After Jesus’ laborious work of healing, teaching and preaching, and after he had educated his disciples to do like-wise, he issued his great command: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.”

It will be observed that he not only commanded them to preach, but to heal and teach, for healing overcomes sickness, and teaching overcomes sin, and preaching overcomes death. This triune rule of the Principle will meet, master, and overcome the triple lie of sin, sickness and death, which opposes the triune Principle of Life, Truth, and Love. Thus the Kingdom of Heaven will be established, and the powers of darkness be ruled out of consciousness.

It is the pure healing, teaching, preaching that will give us the true Theology, Gospel, and Ministry of Christ. Many inquire, “Why do you not lift every case into heaven at once if your Christian Science is so wonderful?” We answer, It is no difficult task to heal those who come to us in a contrite spirit, believing and trusting in the power of the Word. Even Jesus did not do “many mighty works” in some localities because of their unbelief. Persons seeking Christian Science—the Science of Mind—in the spirit of scorn, curiosity, antagonism, and especially, those who deny the text-book, and say, “I want to be made well, but do not ask me to read your book Science and Health, or require me to accept the views of its author,”—such persons cannot, and ought not to expect to be healed. “He that denieth me will my Father also deny, but he that confesseth me, him will my Father also confess.”

The denial of our text-book, which gives to us the power of healing, teaching, and preaching, is the denial of the Theology, Gospel, and Ministry of healing, teaching and preaching. Refusing the Theology of Christian Science, is rejecting the very thing that would heal such persons. I have never been able to heal a case where the book has been denied,—the book which taught me how to heal. Jesus said of these, “From such turn away. . . . If ye enter a man’s house (his thought), and he receive you not, shake the dust of your feet from that house, and depart from it.” Non-receptiveness of Truth is a rejection of it, and brings no fruitfulness.

What is the use of people coming to us to be healed, if they deny the very book in which the healing power is revealed. When people seek relief from the physician who is a student of materia medica, do they go to him denying the source from which he obtains his supposed wisdom? No. They take the drugs according to his prescription, pay their money, and go away content. They do not stop to ascertain that the source of the physician’s knowledge is mythology and delusion. But coming to Science they say, “I do not want your book, nor am I willing to confess that the author is chosen, neither am I willing to remunerate you for your time and labor. You do not need it.” And not having read the Bible with understanding they continue, “I do not find in the Bible where I am to pay you a dollar for treatment.” They overlook the commands of the Master when he sent the twelve out, and enjoined them to “provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses;. . . for the workman is worthy of his meat;” and also the injunction contained in 1 Tim. 5: 18, “For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And the labourer is worthy of his reward.” Also Paul’s statement in Romans 15: 27, “For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.” This lack of principle hinders their receptiveness of the Spirit of Love, and prevents their being healed. Again some persons say, “I want you to teach me, but I have no money to pay you, you do not need it.” Often those who thus plead are able to pay, and are under the false belief of poverty, when in fact they have plenty. It is the experience of almost all who are in the field that those who so grudgingly receive the Truth, are the first to turn upon it. While the one who willingly lays his “Isaac on the altar,” making his sacrifice for Truth’s sake will reap, glean and gather his wheat into the barn. The cry is also sometimes made that the preacher, or speaker is not in need of any other aid than that which he receives from healing and teaching, and therefore he should receive no compensation for his labor. “We have sufficiently honored them by putting them in the position.” Thus again they forget the commands of the Master and the apostle Paul.

If we wish to be healers, teachers, and preachers, we must be willing to abide by the Principle and live up to the rule of the same, honoring our calling, and imitating the example of Jesus. Then will we be recipients of his bounty, and draw our pay from the banking house of divine Love. We will find Life, Truth, and Love our munificent pay-master, ruling out the god of this world, and teaching us that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Through our demonstration we shall bring in the money of realization, which links the brotherhood of man in one vast unit and harmony.

To obtain our fruitfulness, we must know that Love forms the character, Truth the temperament, and Life the disposition of man. Man, the image and likeness of the Father, has no other disposition than to serve God in meekness and godly fear. It is his temperament to be obedient to Truth. It is his character to be enriched with Love. He is thus wedded to Principle in an indissoluble marriage tie, which is blessed with the fruit of wisdom forever. This fixed union of Mind and man, gives to us the Fatherhood and Motherhood of Principle, whose offspring makes the earth of spiritual existence one teeming, living and pulsating activity.

We are first attracted by the law of Spirit. Prayer is the key-note to atonement in the Bridal of our hearts affection to Christ. The altar of Science is the unity of praise and prayer. At this altar we kneel with reverence and godly fear. It is here we bring our atonement, and this is the blessing from our Father, Mother, God. We must know we have to drink the cup, eat the bitter herb, and take our vow to obey the rule and serve the Principle, and “preserve it stainless.”

To preserve this vow, we must replace selfishness with unselfishness, sensuality with spirituality; and thus we have the two servants in our household of consciousness, that will keep the house swept and garnished. Unselfishness will furnish us with the bread and meat of the Gospel, and spirituality with the wine and oil of the ministry, and these will enable us to serve God acceptably. The angel goes out from our consciousness saying: “Hurt not the oil and the wine.” Faith, hope, and charity, must be kept green in the thought, and a straightforward looking to Principle will preserve our vow stainless until the death of all error parts us from materiality, and this stainless vow will perfect our marriage with the Christ-Mind.

Solemn is the vow we declare, of God’s Allness. The preservation of this vow, will enable us to be healers, teachers, and preachers of the living Word which tears down the cross and gives the crown.

Love is the liberator.