Does the argument come to you that you didn’t come from a good family, or have opportunities as someone else? Stand on the fact that you came forth from God; that your background is God Himself.
You came forth from the background of the infinite grandeur of Mind – from the capabilities and capacities of Principle itself; you came forth from the sound and stable foundation of Truth – sincerity, genuineness, fidelity are the very nature of your being.

“Thou art Truth’s honest child, Of pure and sinless heart;” (Hymn #382)

You came forth from, and are the substance of Spirit; you are the loved of God. Your whole background is the background of Love, and Love only; and there never has been, and can never be, a power that can change the status of Love’s child. Your emerged from the background of radiance and beauty. You were made of the inspiration and stimulation of Soul; Life eternal is your life. You were not created delicate or weak or with a predisposition to take cold and have indigestion. You were created of Life-substance, and Life can never be less than vigorous and warm and energetic and spontaneous. You are Life expressing itself; then there is never anything less than life in your being. Your sense, faculties, and functions are operated by Life, Principle, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Truth, Love.

UNA WILLARD

Martha Wilcox
Article on Body

“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.” Just so long as you are trying to spiritualize body, or to heal the body through your own mental effort, just so long as you are trying to create health, you are laboring in vain, for you are trying to do God’s part, to do that which has already been done.

We live in a universe of perfect form. Not only our body but all that is formed is literally the body of God and is perfect now. To believe that the infinite substance has been malformed through the ignorant mental activity of the individual, and must be redeemed and perfected through the same activity is to see not one power, but two. There is no condition of the body. There is nothing to be rebuilt or straightened or healed. There is nothing to change. There is nothing needed but to see God. “Stand ye still and see the salvation of the Lord.”

All that we need to do – and it will keep us busy – is to train our thought faithfully and persistently in the acknowledgment of the truth of God’s presence, train it to judge righteous judgment, to see God and God only, to think God and God only. Having accepted the omnipresence, hold to it no matter what the apparent condition may seem to be. In treating yourself, never deal with appearances or symptoms. Do not center your thought on organs or functions. Infinite substance, power, intelligence and activity are in that place and do not need your suggestions.

Stop thinking about the body or trying to picture as perfect from your standpoint. Our highest perception of the body today is far short of what body really is. Stop tinkering with it mentally. Loose it and let it go. Just know that it is God’s body and that God this moment and every moment is bringing it forth according to His Word, His divine idea. Jesus recognized Lazarus as an undying manifestation of God. You are that undying and perfect manifestation of God.

MARY BAKER EDDY
(Excerpted from her article “Body”)

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SUBJECT—MATTER

GOLDEN TEXT: Isaiah 43 : 11

“I, even I, am the Lord;

and beside Me there is no saviour.”

RESPONSIVE READING: Psalms 103 : 1-5, 7, 10, 17

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

3. Who healeth all thy diseases;

4. Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles’s.

7. He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the children of Israel.

10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our inquities.

17. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children.

The Bible

1. Exodus 19 : 3 (Moses)-5

2. Exodus 20 : 1-5 (to 2nd ,)

3. Exodus 32 : 1-4, 7, 19, 20, 35 (to 2nd ,)

4. Habakkuk 1 : 12 (to ?), 13 (to :)

5. Job 35 : 5-7, 13

6. Psalms 142 : 1, 3, 5-7

7. Luke 8 : 40, 43-48

8. Romans 8 : 1, 2, 12-17 (to 2nd ;)

Science and Health

1. 330 : 11 (God)-12

2. 278 : 1-5

3. 146 : 13-22

4. 142 : 26-12

5. 280 : 16-24

6. 143 : 26-13

7. 281 : 27-30

8. 166 : 15-22

9. 167 : 11-28

10. 280 : 1-8

11. 279 : 16-19

12. 109 : 32-7

Lesson Comments

“The real church is the gathering of members to work in the one Mind, to help Christianize the thoughts of all mankind. The membership of the church is only a small group composed of those who perceive the inspirational intent of Christian Science and work along such lines. The rank and file are decoys for the few consecrated ones who are doing the work, the real mental work, for the world.” – Gilbert Carpenter
Our church members are doing a “Watch” as in Mrs. Eddy’s household, every evening from 10:30 – 10:45 EST.
Unite with us in our prayers to help uplift the thought of all mankind. As Mrs. Eddy said in one of her classes, “We, today, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind: for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind: as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and it was done.” (Misc. Wr. p.279-280)

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SUBJECT—SUBSTANCE

GOLDEN TEXT: Hosea 10 : 12

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your falloiw ground:

for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.”

RESPONSIVE READING: Proverbs 10 : 22, Proverbs 11 : 23-28

22. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

23. The desire of the righteous is only good.

24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watereth also himself.

26. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor:

28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

The Bible

1. Psalms 132 : 13 (the)-16

2. Proverbs 3 : 9, 10, 27-29/p>

3. Ezekiel 34 : 2 (Thus)-5 (to :), 9-11, 23-27

4. John 1 : 14 (the Word), 16,17

5. John 10 : 7 (to Jesus), 7 (Verily)-14

6. Colossians 3 : 1, 2, 12-15

Science and Health

1. 301 : 17-20

2. 258 : 31-5

3. 301 : 5-12

4. 17 : 7 (Love) (to ;)

5. 91 : 16-21

6. 252 : 15-8

7. 583 : 10-11

8. 133 : 24-28

9. 51 : 28-32

10. 365 : 7-14

11. 366 : 12-21

12. 367 : 3-23

13. 428 : 8-14

Lesson Comments

“The real church is the gathering of members to work in the one Mind, to help Christianize the thoughts of all mankind. The membership of the church is only a small group composed of those who perceive the inspirational intent of Christian Science and work along such lines. The rank and file are decoys for the few consecrated ones who are doing the work, the real mental work, for the world.” – Gilbert Carpenter
Our church members are doing a “Watch” as in Mrs. Eddy’s household, every evening from 10:30 – 10:45 EST.
Unite with us in our prayers to help uplift the thought of all mankind. As Mrs. Eddy said in one of her classes, “We, today, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind: for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind: as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and it was done.” (Misc. Wr. p.279-280)

My mother had been diagnosed by a doctor with C.O.P.D. (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). She is not a Christian Scientist, and I was very concerned about her health so I decided to call a practitioner for help. The practitioner told me it was an unselfish motive to want to help my mother and she gave me this statement from Science and Health to work with “Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.” Also , “…where prayers are mental , all may avail themselves of God as ‘a very present help in trouble.’” She told me to work with the Scientific Statement of Being by Mrs. Eddy as well.
I was very grateful when my mother soon expressed an interest in reading the Plainfield Lesson, and then a willingness to call the practitioner herself for help.
Shortly after speaking with the practitioner, my mother’s long time habit of smoking was completely healed. She stopped needing the apparatus she had been using to help her breathe, as well as the medication she had been taking. All the symptoms have abated and she is now a well woman.
I am very grateful for this healing. I now feel a strong desire to dedicate myself more wholly to the cause of Christian Science and to become more involved with the activities of this church. Thank God for Mary Baker Eddy and for our church, Independent!

T. D., Iowa

Dear God, I prayed tell me what
I need to know,
My healing seems so slow—so slow.
Is there some old hidden fault in me?
That, blinded, I refuse to see—
Or perhaps some dim dark past,
That won’t let go?
–and then an answer came
Just this way:–
“My son, don’t you know—
You are perfect, and always
Have been.
Just rest in that,
There is not past.”

ART ANKER

One who is seeking freedom, and finds it delayed, is often tempted to question, why am I so long in being healed? I read and study faithfully, do everything required of me, “pray without ceasing,” yet conditions do not change. Others are quickly healed, without any apparent understanding or knowledge of Science, and seemingly without any effort on their part.
This may be true; but the fact remains that each one must walk in his own pathway and learn the lessons to be gained therein.
My own healing in Christian Science was slow. The logic and theory of Christian Science was fairly clear to me within a month or two, but to trust it and make it practical took years. Looking back, I can see some reasons for delayed healing. In the first place, I believed absolutely in the reality and power of the error which I suffered. Then, too, I wanted to be healed above all else, and this is sometimes disastrous. I read the textbook with the thought in mind of being healed. I would read a powerful statement and think, “Maybe this will heal me.”
I would earnestly warn others against such practice. I thought practitioners were wasting their time when they talked so much about God, because I was not seeking a religion. I wished only to be free from suffering.
Another hindrance was that I became desperately sorry for myself. Self-pity is like a poison. It seems some are quickly healed, but I was not one of these. I am deeply grateful for it all and for every step of the way, however rough it seemed.
It is absolutely necessary for some people to be driven to solitude, really to find and know themselves as children of Spirit; to become acquainted with a real self which they have never consciously met before.
This takes time, study, thought and consecration; a gradual laying aside of old beliefs and habits, a discarding of many faults, some that were once thought to be virtues; an overturning of false education, and a new kind of self-analysis from an entirely new basis.
At times one will say, “I don’t care how wearisome the way is, if I’m healed. But it seems as if I’m making no progress, despite the effort put forth.” This is never so for when freedom does come, one will be found farther along the road than he had ever dreamed he could be.
For the comfort of such wayfarers Mrs. Eddy writes, “If your endeavors are beset by fearful odds, and you receive no present reward, go not back to error, nor become a sluggard in the race. When the smoke of battle clears away, you will discern the good you have done, and receive according to your deserving. Love is not hasty to deliver us from temptation, for Love means that we shall be tried and purified.” (Science and Health, p. 22)
I know in my own experience it was not until one day I set the textbook down and said, “ Well, whether I am ever healed or not, I am certainly finding God as I never knew Him before.” Then better conditions began to be manifested. I turned to Christian Science with the thought of finding God. Then the suffering lessened and finally vanished. I thought less about the body and naturally it troubled me less.
Not unnaturally I always feel the deepest compassion toward those who seem slow in receiving their freedom, because I know the difficulties of hope deferred, but I must add that I also know much, very much of its triumphs.
Then let us persist; let us keep our confidence and faith in God, till the coming of that glad time when we can say, as did Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course.”
More earnest seeking, striving, overcoming, day by day is still the one thing needful as we “press toward the mark;” but the pilgrim is not alone, for he has at last learned that our heavenly Father is with him every step of the way.

KATE BUCK

We all want to make a difference in this world, and during the present political upheaval in our country and world, it helps to turn to the Gospel for guidance, and a healthy perspective. Christ Jesus came into the world during the height of the Roman Empire. When he was heralded as the Saviour of Israel, most assumed that he would lead a revolt against the Romans, who occupied the land. Because the chief priests and scribes (members of religious establishment of the time) felt threatened by Jesus’ revolutionary message, they tried to trap him into saying something incendiary towards Rome, and thereby get him into trouble with the authorities. They asked him, “Is it lawful for us to give tribute [pay taxes] unto Caesar, or not?” Jesus knew well what they were up to, and foiled them by showing them a penny with Caesar’ image and superscription. Then he made his now-famous proclamation, “Render unto Caesar the things that be Caesar’s, and unto God the things that be God’s.”

The mission of Jesus was far greater than freeing a nation from a tyrannical government for a moment in time. As Mrs. Eddy so perfectly described it: “In no other one thing seemed Jesus of Nazareth more divine than in his faith in the immortality of his words. He said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away;” and they have not… They still live, and to-morrow speak louder than to-day… Jesus taught by the wayside, in humble homes. He spake of Truth and Love to artless and dull disciples. His immortal words were articulated in a decaying language, and then left to the providence of God. Christian Science was to interpret them; and woman, “last at the cross,” was to awaken the dull senses, intoxicated with pleasure or pain, to the infinite meaning of those words.” (Misc. Wr.)

If this message of Truth has touched us, we ought to follow our Master, the Way-shower, and see the bigger picture! He did not get entangled in political struggles or worldly achievement, and yet nobody has had greater impact on humanity. Jesus did not get sucked into the endless bickering of mortals, nor should we: “The despotic tendencies, inherent in mortal mind and always germinating in new forms of tyranny, must be rooted out through the action of the divine Mind.” (S&H) Should we not follow his example, as stated in the sixth Tenet of Christian Science? “And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.” The impact of doing this we leave to “the providence of God.”

Andrew Kidd

Sacred history tells us that in the province of Galilee, among the common people, there was a little group of metaphysical thinkers. Right in the midst of this dense materialistic thinking of the upper class was this little group, this remnant of Israel who practiced pure and undefiled religion. They taught and practiced the most beautiful moral precepts. In fact, they were full of light in that black night of materialism. This little group knew from actual experience that spiritual law, set in motion by purified and spiritualized thought, was far more effective than the forcing of political issue through material aggression or human will.
Mary belonged to this group. Mary was deeply religious, a woman of strong character and super-intelligence. She was far from the “clinging vine” type to which so many have ignorantly assigned her. It is interesting and wonderful to learn how Mary, within herself, prepared for the coming of the Saviour. She was familiar with the Scriptures and knew that an immaculate conception would not just happen. She knew that an immaculate conception could take place only if the purity of the virgin’s thought was sufficiently demonstrated.
Mary was familiar with the miracles of the ancient patriarchs and prophets. She, no doubt, prayed and sang the songs of David. To her, the Psalms were the same source of comfort and consolation as they have been to both Christian and Jew alike, down through the ages. Mary knew that all things, circumstances, conditions, and events do not just happen. She clearly understood that any thought held in the mentality tends to express or eternalize itself in outward or visible form. Therefore, Mary firmly believed that the longing and the undaunted faith in the certain coming of Israel’s deliverer, would sometime become externalized. Mary knew that if she, a virgin, were to become the mother of the Saviour, this demonstration could only be made through her spiritual understanding of the Fatherhood of God. Her demonstration made, then, indeed, God would be the Father of her child, and her child would truly be the Son of God.
The annunciation, as recorded by Luke, was Mary’s announcement to herself, and to those who looked for Israel’s deliverer, that she was to be the mother of the Saviour, who would save not only Israel of that day, but all generations to come. This annunciation represents Mary’s own reasoning; her communion with the angel was her communion with her own inner self. In a larger sense, her annunciation was her communion with God, her own mind. This, indeed, was the power and operation of the divine idea in human consciousness.
In this annunciation, Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name. And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.” (Luke) This annunciation by the Virgin Mary is the greatest poem in Hebrew literature. I will say it is the greatest poem that has ever been written.
When the angel, that mighty impression of good, appeared to Mary and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God,” Mary answered this angel, saying, “Be it unto me according to Thy word.” (Luke)
False theology has made the world believe that this statement made by Mary to the angel was made in a spirit of mere pious resignation on her part, and that Mary had little to do with giving a Saviour to the world. But since “The Key to the Scriptures” has unlocked for us the “Science of Mind,” Mary’s statement, “Be it unto me according to Thy word,” reveals Mary’s thought as being on a lofty plane of spiritual power and realization. This statement was a confident assertion that nothing, not even the bringing forth of Israel’s deliverer, was impossible with God. Her words were the acknowledgement of spiritual law.

Martha Wilcox

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SUBJECT—SUBSTANCE

GOLDEN TEXT: Hosea 10 : 12

“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your falloiw ground:

for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you.”

RESPONSIVE READING: Proverbs 10 : 22, Proverbs 11 : 23-28

22. The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it.

23. The desire of the righteous is only good.

24. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watereth also himself.

26. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27. He that diligently seeketh good procureth favor:

28. He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

The Bible

1. Psalms 132 : 13 (the)-16

2. Proverbs 3 : 9, 10, 27-29/p>

3. Ezekiel 34 : 2 (Thus)-5 (to :), 9-11, 23-27

4. John 1 : 14 (the Word), 16,17

5. John 10 : 7 (to Jesus), 7 (Verily)-14

6. Colossians 3 : 1, 2, 12-15

Science and Health

1. 301 : 17-20

2. 258 : 31-5

3. 301 : 5-12

4. 17 : 7 (Love) (to ;)

5. 91 : 16-21

6. 252 : 15-8

7. 583 : 10-11

8. 133 : 24-28

9. 51 : 28-32

10. 365 : 7-14

11. 366 : 12-21

12. 367 : 3-23

13. 428 : 8-14

Lesson Comments

“The real church is the gathering of members to work in the one Mind, to help Christianize the thoughts of all mankind. The membership of the church is only a small group composed of those who perceive the inspirational intent of Christian Science and work along such lines. The rank and file are decoys for the few consecrated ones who are doing the work, the real mental work, for the world.” – Gilbert Carpenter
Our church members are doing a “Watch” as in Mrs. Eddy’s household, every evening from 10:30 – 10:45 EST.
Unite with us in our prayers to help uplift the thought of all mankind. As Mrs. Eddy said in one of her classes, “We, today, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind: for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind: as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and it was done.” (Misc. Wr. p.279-280)

The second chapter of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, covers the subjects of atonement and eucharist. For those familiar with the chapter, this recording will provide fresh inspiration. For those new to the textbook, this will introduce you to basic Christian concepts of atonement and sacrament as viewed in the revelation of Christian Science.

Pages 18-28:

Listen to Chapter 2

Pages 28-37

Listen to Chapter 2

Pages 37-44:

Listen to Chapter 2

Pages 44-55:

Listen to Chapter 2

God, the source of all being — the atmosphere, so to speak, in which all living move and have being, — is Radiation, continual action. Man, as His idea, possessing His qualities, also radiates His thoughts, comprising all that is good, harmonious, and perfect. That constant radiation of Light is the Armor of Righteousness, which always protects man from his enemy, the devil (mortal mind).
All mortal mind is the counterfeit, or opposite, of this Life Principle, and is absorption, blackness, and stagnation, which strives, with apparent power, to set up its counter-current of material envy, malice, and selfishness, to render its victim an absorbent of all that is evil, erroneous, causing stagnation and death.
As man cannot at the same time radiate and absorb, by consistently sending forth thoughts of Love, Life, and Truth whenever a delusion of their opposites presents itself, he may have a veritable armor against fears of weakness of every description, and so keep prepared for, and guard against, attacks from every direction. This idea will bear much contemplation, growing and amplifying with application.
Thus, God, Light, Action, Life, Truth, or Love, is the invincible Power, which repels and conquers animal magnetism, blackness, stagnation, death, error, and hate. Christian Scientists will find the effect of the approach and attack of mesmerism to be a sort of paralysis, or inaction of mind, which will be reversed upon the recovery of the right condition of thought, by the vitality and Life that has conquered and destroyed the numbness and fear.
When an attack seems to approach, — by immediately reversing the condition of mind, and mentally enquiring of self, “Am I radiating good or am I absorbing evil?” — and putting that thought into action, by addressing the counteracting thought of Spirit to whatever seems to be attacking you from mortal mind, you will set yourself free from bondage, and render yourself the medium of demonstration for those blessings you so freely receive from the source of all Good.

A. Learner

From current Healing Thoughts magazine
This article appeared in an 1887 Journal, and it is thought to have been written by Mary Baker Eddy.

The book of Job is the oldest written book in the Bible. What could we possibly learn from something so old, when the world was so different — thousands of years ago, when there was no running water, no phones, no microwaves, nothing like we have today?
The book begins by presenting Job as a good man who was very successful, but his children did not share his work ethic, and were out drinking and partying all the time. Well now, that sounds familiar. Job was very worried about them, but never confronted them. Rather, he prayed to God that He would forgive them. What a perfect example of what not to do! Mary Baker Eddy states, “If prayer nourishes the belief that sin is cancelled, and that man is made better merely by praying, prayer is an evil. He grows worse who continues in sin because he fancies himself forgiven.” (S&H) Job, in fact, did grow worse and suffered immensely until he learned his lesson.
The writers of the book of Job, however, did not understand what was going on. They only saw a good man become a victim. They conjured up an interaction between two personalities, God and Satan, wagering on the goodness of Job! The God-personality invited the Satan-personality to rain down the worst calamities imaginable upon Job, to demonstrate Job’s faithfulness, that he would not curse God. We know that the writers conjured all this up, because God is not in a human form, and there is no such thing as a person called Satan! But before we dismiss this absurd explanation, let us consider what very often happens when a good man suffers a terrible experience. Somehow, the blame ends up at God’s doorstep! Let us never fall for that temptation, for it contradicts “perfect God and perfect man.” Let us, instead, remember the book of Job.
Job went through an agonizing time, trying to reconcile his experience with his own pride of life, his own personal sense of good. He got nowhere. His three “well-intentioned” friends tried to help him, but since they were full of pride of life themselves, they only ended up making him feel worse, essentially condemning him.
Finally, Elihu, a fourth friend, and the youngest, steps up. He has the Christ-spirit, and starts with the premise of perfect God, Principle, and works from there with conviction and dominion. It breaks the mesmerism, and now Job can hear God.
Job’s heart is reached, and in total humility, he says: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” His pride of life became dust and ashes, and the image and likeness of God stepped forward. As the story goes, Job ended up with twice as much as he had before, and had a very happy and full life.
We have touched upon some of the many lessons in the book of Job, lessons that will help us to grow in our understanding of Christian Science, and help us take every untoward experience and turn it into a blessing, remembering always Jesus’ statement, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

Andrew Kidd

From current Healing Thoughts magazine

The first chapter of the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, covers the subject of prayer. For those familiar with the chapter, this recording will provide fresh inspiration. For those new to the textbook, this will introduce you to the most important book since the Bible on the subject of man’s relationship to his Maker.

Pages 1-4:

Listen to the Chapter 1

Pages 4-11

Listen to the Chapter 1

Pages 11-17:

Listen to the Chapter 1

Mary Beth Singleterry

The temple of the living God cannot be less than perfect in outline, can it? And you are the temple of the living God.  Certainly the extra weight will fall away.  It is mental, is it not?

Keep in thought, that active Principle operates throughout your being. This compels all the functions of your body to behave.  Do not forget that the lines are fallen to you in undeviating comeliness.  In other words, you are perfectly proportioned, and that right now.

It is your belief in matter that works the mischief! The unusual appetite will subside, when you recognize that the Almighty is in the midst, contolling all your desires, emotions, thoughts, and functions.

You know, God is so very close to you, and He and you are one, which ensures that you can be as sensible and well-disciplined as He is.  You can no more lose your form divinely fair than He can.

The master Architect who built you, insured His work–guaranteed that it would not swell or warp, or in any way get out of line.  So, the undeniable fact is, you are perfect now, uniform and balanced, not too heavy, and not too thin.

You may be sure that God not only gave you a perfect form, but protected it against subsequent encroachment.  You see, there is an undeviating law, which not only fashions you in perfection, but forever holds you there.  There is no power anywhere to interfere with that fine structure of yours by adding a single unnecessary pound.

Now get busy on your own behalf.  Think the above truths and dwell on them.  Talk them to yourself, hour by hour, day by day.  Expect results.

As your thought becomes clarified, consciousness will form a perfect body.  It is a case of, “O Life that maketh all things new.”

Peter V. Ross

Beginning on p. 430 in Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy presents an allegory, a trial that is both intriguing and instructive, both humorous and scathing, assigning characters to the different kind of thoughts and beliefs that one may entertain when feeling ill, and demonstrating the operation of Christian Science treatment in bringing about healing. The fact that this portion of the textbook was introduced in the first edition, and remains in the final edition, unchanged, where the rest of the book underwent many changes, ought to encourage us to take notice. The Trial is a masterpiece and gives us plenty to think about!

Listen to it here:

Listen to the Trial

A recent newspaper article stated that one of the main reasons why a person is not promoted in business is their inability to take correction. When we indulge in pride, hurt feelings, and stubbornness, important lessons are not learned — and the promotion goes to someone else.
Everyone certainly wants to progress in life and to become better in every way. Mary Baker Eddy gives a clear and penetrating statement that would help even the most difficult case to learn and appreciate the value of taking correction: “If the Christian Scientist recognize the mingled sternness and gentleness which permeate justice and Love, he will not scorn the timely reproof, but will so absorb it that this warning will be within him a spring, welling up into unceasing spiritual rise and progress.” (Ret.)
If we truly want to make progress, wouldn’t we want to know what stumbling blocks might be preventing spiritual growth? And unless there is someone loving enough to give a much needed correction, how very easy it is to continue in a bad habit. Are we grateful for the one who unselfishly points out the way, or do we instead “scorn the timely reproof”?
Many come to Christian Science demanding that their problems be healed, but they refuse to make the necessary changes in their lives that will bring them closer to God. They are also the ones who complain of no improvement. But those who are humbly willing to purify their thoughts and deeds and gratefully accept corrections, receive blessings and healing beyond measure.
As Mrs. Eddy says, “Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea. Gladness to leave the false landmarks and joy to see them disappear, — this disposition helps to precipitate the ultimate harmony. The purification of sense and self is proof of progress. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.’” (S&H)
Let us humbly pray for this disposition which allows us to appreciate and benefit from a needed correction, and in so doing, gives way to a life blessed with “unceasing spiritual rise and progress.”

Mary Beth Singleterry

From current Healing Thoughts magazine

Last month I was startled by a rather loud ringing in my ears and what appeared to be the loss of most of my hearing in my left ear.  I was frightened by this development, as my mother was troubled by a similar problem that began when she was around the age I’ve reached. I called a practitioner from the Plainfield Church, who assured me that my only inheritance is from God and that the definition of ears in Science and Health is “Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses , but spiritual understanding.”  She said, “We’ll know that this is going to leave you right away and that all that is really needed is a deeper understanding of God.”
The practitioner stressed the importance of reading the Lesson-Sermon every day, particularly in the morning when “your mind is like a sponge and therefore it is important to fill it with the Truth!” She reminded me of several things I hadn’t thought of in many years, including our daily prayer: “Thy kingdom come; let the reign of divine Truth, Life and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin, and may Thy word enrich the affections of all mankind and govern them.” She told me to affirm every morning that “God is the only true and perfect hearing and God is MY hearing.” A verse from that week’s lesson that “God will perfect that which concerneth me” was also extremely comforting.
The practitioner directed me to call her every morning until the problem was lifted. Within a week’s time, I am thrilled to say, my hearing was restored completely. The “ringing” had troubled me to a greater or lesser degree for a few years prior to what appeared to be hearing loss, but I had chosen to ignore it rather than deal with it. I am happy to say that since this healing I have been completely free of that nuisance.
I am so grateful for the lessons, “Healing Thoughts,” and the simple and loving approach  which characterize every aspect of the Plainfield Church. You all have given me a fresh start with Christian Science, which I had never really understood before and yet had missed for so long. I look forward to learning more, and I’m sure the search will not be confusing and frustrating as it once was, but rather “sweet, calm and buoyant with hope”!

The Old Testament is a history of the Children of Israel, a history that presents a repetitive pattern: as they turned to the one God, they prospered; but as they turned away to the idols of the people around them, they fell into bad times. Even with warning after warning, they never seemed to learn. They continued to turn away from God and suffer the consequences.
What was it with those Israelites? But isn’t it an example of the human condition that still exists today? The Bible, then, is not so much a history of an ancient people, but rather a history of the human condition. It shows us what works, and what does not.
The first tenet of Christian Science reads: “We take the inspired word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal life.” The inspired word of the Bible does not refer to certain passages of the book. If that were the case, we could simply cut out the uninspired stuff and be left with a small, easy-to-read book that would guarantee our salvation. No, Mrs. Eddy was referring to the word received by the inspired thought, the thought that is receptive to the message that God has for us today, to meet the need of today. In this light, let us consider the history of the Children of Israel and see how we can learn from their experience.
Why did the children of Israel leave their trust in the one God, even after they experienced the most wonderful demonstrations of God’s care — the escape from terrible slavery, the parting of the Red Sea, being fed with manna for forty years, etc.?
Preoccupied with the wants of each day, they forgot the tremendous displays of power of God from yesterday.
Idols were very attractive and you could see them, while trusting in an invisible God was unnerving. Everybody else was trusting in idols. Why buck the trend?
The idols of biblical times are not prevalent today, but you cannot watch TV for more than a few minutes without being introduced to the idols of today — exercise programs, diets, medicine and drugs that promise to solve all your problems. They cast a spell on the lazy thought, and soak up his/her time and energy, leaving God practically out of the picture. But the question to ask now is: “Do they encourage a greater trust in God as our hope and salvation?”
The Children of Israel were always in the minority as the single nation worshipping the one God. Today, those who take Christian Science seriously are, of course, in the minority. The world is not sympathetic with the Scientific Statement of Being! So, unless one is active in the Truth, striving to walk with God and use the Truth consistently, that one is likely to slip away into the mainstream of blind belief. It is astounding how quickly a patient forgets, having been at death’s door, pronounced incurable by the doctors, healed completely by Christian Science, and later remembers only after being reminded, and in some cases denies that it ever really happened! Cultivated gratitude is the protection against this appalling and dangerous condition. Gratitude is a spiritual quality that nurtures our relationship with God and keeps us safe, safer than any other insurance policy.
As the fortunes of the Children of Israel went up and down depending on their greater or lesser adherence to the one God, so do ours, and those of our community and nation. The Bible tells us so.

Andrew Kidd

From Healing Thoughts magazine section on Bible Relevance

My husband became very ill. Family members pressed us to take him to a doctor, which we did. After a thorough examination the doctor told us my husband had cancer of the mouth in the advanced stages and gave us a very dire and frightening prediction.

We left his office quite shaken up. We were both Christian Scientists and I suggested we go to our local church and find some comforting literature to read. There we found hidden in a corner and buried beneath some things a book entitled Christian Science Its “Clear Correct Teaching” and Complete Writings by Herbert W. Eustace, C. S. B.

It looked very interesting so we took it home and began studying a section called “Factors Involved in Healing”. Under that topic there was an article called “Cancer of the Liver.” As we read and studied it, my husband fell peacefully asleep. I reasoned as God is All-in-all the only cell there can be is the cell of God and that is perfect now, therefore a cancerous cell has no real existence. In the morning when my husband got up, he said he felt there was something different in his mouth. When I looked at it, I found where before, there had been a terrible picture, now his skin was pink and healthy! He had been completely healed over night by the power of God!

I am now well advanced in years. I continue to do all my own book keeping and house work. Everyone remarks at how young and active I am. I have been a member of your church for a long time. I read your lesson, subscribe to your periodicals and tune in regularly to your web-site. I am delighted with all the recent changes you have been making. This healing of my husband will always be an inspiration to me as infallible proof of the healing power of God. I am so very grateful to Mrs. Eddy for discovering Christian Science and writing our textbook Science and Health, also, for this priceless book by Herbert W. Eustace and for the wonderful good I have been receiving by being a member of your independent church.

For close to a year, I struggled with chronic pneumonia. It was a nightmare as I had three small children. I had no strength and nothing the doctors prescribed helped much.

I had heard of the promising healing work going on in Plainfield, and although I was not a Christian Scientist, I called a practitioner in Plainfield to see if he could help me. After relating my pitiful predicament, I was met with a quiet but convincing “That is not right.” Other comforting thoughts were given, but the declaration “That is not right” struck a chord. From that moment I experienced a quick recovery. My strength returned, and not only was I able to take care of my own children, but I also returned to my teaching job with plenty of vigor!

Are you doubtful or discouraged because you are not healed quickly? That is the devil’s device to keep you in an inharmonious state of mind, so that, in belief, your food will not assimilate, your bodily organs will not act properly, and poisons will continue to be secreted in your system. Do not be caught by the snare of the devil. Know that God made man, that all God’s works are perfect; that health and harmony are eternal laws of God, and are present facts. Resting in this assurance, be hopeful, cheerful, patient, and persistent. Maintain the joy of the Lord. Rule out all inharmonious and ungodlike emotions and sentiments. Keep them out by relying on God and by meditating on His law. If you do this persistently, the mortal-mind so-called causes of your trouble will be removed; your food will assimilate better; malnutrition will gradually cease; poisons will cease to be formed; the poisons in your system, in belief, will be gradually eliminated; new and healthy tissues will be built up. It often takes time to accomplish this, but what of it? You entertained wrong mental states for weeks and months before the resulting disease developed. Is it any wonder that you should be required to entertain right and God-like habits of thoughts for weeks before the disease disappears? And do you not see that if you allow yourself to vacillate between hope and fear, between confidence and doubt, between trust in God and anxiety, and do not trust God with your whole heart, you are delaying your healing just so much? It is practically certain that if you maintain a confident, hopeful, cheerful frame of mind, without interruption, for a number of weeks consecutively, beneficial physical results will be in evidence. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” The summation of the matter is: If you want to be well, believe in God, and the all-power and all-presence of good; in the essential nothingness and impermanency of evil in its every manifestation; cultivate and maintain God-like qualities of mind; cast out and refuse to entertain all ungodlike qualities of mind, however much excuse there may seem to be for entertaining them; keep your confidence in God, and keep on doing it; and, meanwhile, place your sole reliance for healing upon Spirit, and withdraw your reliance absolutely from matter, whether in the form of drugs, or in any other form, thus honoring the Lord your God with your whole trust and with your whole reliance. Follow this program faithfully and without cessation; and your reward is sure; and it will come in such time as is really for your best good. To carry out this program, do not hesitate at any amount of effort, nor at any reasonable expense, not at any sacrifice of worldly plans and pleasures; for that which you will attain as the result of this program will be the salvation of your soul, the being made whole and God-like in your consciousness.

Rev. G. A. Kratzer

Excerpt from “Dominion Within”

I had suffered with a swallowing problem for six years and finally, a year ago, my esophagus closed up completely and I had to go into surgery to get it opened. Since that time, I have been getting regular treatment from a doctor who would dilate my esophagus so that I could swallow and inject steroids to strengthen it. Finally, when nothing was improving, the doctor warned me that I would need an operation, and start having to use a feeding tube!

Before my next appointment, terrified of what might happen, I turned to God with all my heart, and reached out to a Christian Science practitioner in Plainfield. I was met with love and confidence that “man’s extremity was God’s opportunity.” I was given a statement by Mary Baker Eddy, “Divine Love fills every avenue, flows through every channel, removes every obstacle.”

The next day, I visited the doctor, and he treated me, but made no more mention of operation, just to return in three weeks. So relieved, I thanked the practitioner and said that I would call back before the next appointment, because I could not afford three weeks of treatment. He would have none of it, and insisted we work together until the next appointment, because healing was the important thing. I just needed to pay what I could. The next three weeks was a joyful time of studying and feeling the presence of God. The practitioner gave me, among other things, p.390-393 in Science and Health to work with.

When I returned to the doctor, he announced that I was just fine – no more need for treatment!! From the depths of hopelessness to such freedom and joy! Only God could have done it. Thank God for the faithful, strong work of the practitioner, and for Mary Baker Eddy’s Christian Science, which so apparently, when applied correctly, really heals.

We are today at the standpoint of experience where all Bible prophecy is culminating.  The present financial depression is only the so-called human mind swinging backward and forward like a pendulum, as it has constantly done in the past.  It is simply the often recurring “states of mortal mind which act, react, and then come to a stop.”

The struggle foretold in the Apocalypse is the fearful depression of doubt which asks, “Is there a God?”  It is expressed in “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.”

You have doubtless felt this depression and may have thought it was caused by the financial disturbances, but in this you were mistaken.  It is the deep heartsickness of the world that is being felt.  It is the malicious mind in its final supposition, operating as your mind.  In destroying the claim impersonally as having nothing whatever to do with any person or condition, but as pure hypnotic suggestion having no reality, you will find it is gone.

If you think you are depressed because some person does not treat you kindly, or something is not going well, your hands are immediately tied.  It is not some person or some thing that is the trouble.  It is always the one malicious mind acting as hypnotic suggestion and appearing under the guise of some person or some thing.

Evil can never be handled as person, as one’s self or as some one else.  “Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.  Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all the ways be established.  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:  remove thy foot from evil.”

Herbert Eustace

This letter was written by a Christian Science practitioner to a patient born totally blind. It brought complete healing to the patient.

My Dear:

I want you to see what must take place in your consciousness.  With the utmost clarity you must see that material eyes do not need healing, for matter does not see, and nothing we can say or do about it can ever give it that which it never had, namely, sight.  What must be cast out is the lie about the Truth, namely, that sight is material, not spiritual.

You may rejoice that you have come to the point in your journey from sense to Soul, where divine Love is forcing you to lay hold on what Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health, “Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul.”

The first thing that we see in this healing is that the object of sense, a frail belief called the material eye, which, in turn, is preyed upon by other beliefs called age, accident, disease, etc. has nothing, in reality, to do with the harmonious, everpresent, everactive spiritual quality called sight.

So you take your first step when you realize that eyes as matter never see, and have nothing to do with sight.  “Neither age nor accident can interfere with the senses of Soul, and there are no other real senses.  Spirit’s senses are without pain, and they are forever at peace.  Nothing can hide from them the might and permanence of Truth.” (S&H)

All that needs to be done is to replace the false sense of sight with the true God-given one.   Sight is no more dependent on matter than is honesty, kindness, love – mental qualities which we are free to express at will, and to use as much and as often as we wish.  The more we use these qualities, the more strength and vigor they gain in our thinking, and they are never weakened, impaired or strained by constant use, but grow stronger thereby.  So will it ever be with sight, when we see that it, too, is purely mental.  Mrs. Eddy says, “If it were possible for the real senses of man to be injured, Soul could reproduce them in all their perfection; but they cannot be disturbed nor destroyed, since they exist in immortal Mind, not in matter.” (S&H)

The cause of all loss and suffering is not because matter is diseased, but because of the breaking of the commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Spirit) Keep the first commandment, separate sight from matter, restore it to Mind, where it belongs, and all fear and suffering depart.

Evil is nothing, it is neither a quality, a quantity, a person, a place, or a thing.  It is always it – and it is nothing.  In belief it is the seeming absence of good, just as hate is the seeming absence of Love. When we bring a positive love into our thinking, negative hate disappears, for hate is only the seeming absence of Love.

One of the definitions of “blind” in the dictionary: “Without light morally and intellectually; indiscriminating; something to mislead the eye or understanding.” Blindness was given as “want of discernment; heedlessness.”

Blindness is the expression of blind belief.  Sight is spiritual perception, understanding, revelation.  Hate and fear are darkness.  “Love, redolent with unselfishness, bathes all in beauty and light.” (S&H)

The psalmist prayed, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.”  So must we pray constantly that our eyes be opened to light and love, and to be obedient thereto.  Mrs. Eddy says that, “There is no place where the light of the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas is not seen.  Man, in the likeness of his Maker, reflects the central light of being, the invisible God.” (S&H)

In our textbook are words mighty in power to break this dream of sightlessness.  “The indestructible faculities of Spirit exist without the conditions of matter and also without the false beliefs of a so-called material existence.”

A. Kroeger