The "man of sorrows" best understood the nothing- ness of material life and intelligence and the mighty ac- 52:21 tuality of all-inclusive G.o.d, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love. The high- 52:24 est earthly representative of G.o.d, speaking of human ability to reflect divine power, prophetically said to his disciples, speaking not for their day only but for all time: 52:27 "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;" and "These signs shall follow them that believe."
Defamatory accusations
The accusations of the Pharisees were as self-contra- 52:30 dictory as their religion. The bigot, the deb- auchee, the hypocrite, called Jesus a glutton and a wine-bibber. They said: "He casteth out devils 53:1 through Beelzebub," and is the "friend of publicans and sinners." The latter accusation was true, but not in their 53:3 meaning. Jesus was no ascetic. He did not fast as did the Baptist"s disciples; yet there never lived a man so far removed from appet.i.tes and pa.s.sions as the Nazarene.
53:6 He rebuked sinners pointedly and unflinchingly, because he was their friend; hence the cup he drank.
Reputation and character
The reputation of Jesus was the very opposite of his 53:9 character. Why? Because the divine Principle and practice of Jesus were misunderstood. He was at work in divine Science. His words 53:12 and works were unknown to the world because above and contrary to the world"s religious sense. Mortals be- lieved in G.o.d as humanly mighty, rather than as divine, 53:15 infinite Love.
Inspiring discontent
The world could not interpret aright the discomfort which Jesus inspired and the spiritual blessings which 53:18 might flow from such discomfort. Science shows the cause of the shock so often pro- duced by the truth, - namely, that this shock arises from 53:21 the great distance between the individual and Truth.
Like Peter, we should weep over the warning, instead of denying the truth or mocking the lifelong sacrifice which 53:24 goodness makes for the destruction of evil.
Bearing our sins
Jesus bore our sins in his body. He knew the mortal errors which const.i.tute the material body, and 53:27 could destroy those errors; but at the time when Jesus felt our infirmities, he had not conquered all the beliefs of the flesh or his sense of ma- 53:30 terial life, nor had he risen to his final demonstration of spiritual power.
Had he shared the sinful beliefs of others, he would 54:1 have been less sensitive to those beliefs. Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine 54:3 Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he de- fined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error. The world acknowledged not his righteousness, 54:6 seeing it not; but earth received the harmony his glorified example introduced.
Inspiration of sacrifice
Who is ready to follow his teaching and example? All 54:9 must sooner or later plant themselves in Christ, the true idea of G.o.d. That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin- 54:12 filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus"
intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine com- mission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and 54:15 Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have offered of divine Love. His hearers 54:18 understood neither his words nor his works. They would not accept his meek interpretation of life nor follow his example.
Spiritual friendship
54:21 His earthly cup of bitterness was drained to the dregs. There adhered to him only a few unpretentious friends, whose religion was something more 54:24 than a name. It was so vital, that it en- abled them to understand the Nazarene and to share the glory of eternal life. He said that those who fol- 54:27 lowed him should drink of his cup, and history has con- firmed the prediction.
Injustice to the Saviour
If that G.o.dlike and glorified man were physically on 54:30 earth to-day, would not some, who now pro- fess to love him, reject him? Would they not deny him even the rights of humanity, if he enter- 55:1 tained any other sense of being and religion than theirs?
The advancing century, from a deadened sense of the 55:3 invisible G.o.d, to-day subjects to unchristian comment and usage the idea of Christian healing enjoined by Jesus; but this does not affect the invincible facts.
55:6 Perhaps the early Christian era did Jesus no more injustice than the later centuries have bestowed upon the healing Christ and spiritual idea of being. Now 55:9 that the gospel of healing is again preached by the wayside, does not the pulpit sometimes scorn it? But that curative mission, which presents the Saviour in a 55:12 clearer light than mere words can possibly do, cannot be left out of Christianity, although it is again ruled out of the synagogue.
55:15 Truth"s immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning. My weary hope tries to realize that happy day, when man shall 55:18 recognize the Science of Christ and love his neighbor as himself, - when he shall realize G.o.d"s omnipotence and the healing power of the divine Love in what it has done 55:21 and is doing for mankind. The promises will be ful- filled. The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly 55:24 all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ"s cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.
55:27 In the words of St. John: "He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you _forever_." This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science.
CHAPTER III - MARRIAGE
What therefore G.o.d hath joined together, let not man put asunder. In the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of G.o.d in heaven. - JESUS.
56:1 WHEN our great Teacher came to him for baptism, John was astounded. Reading his thoughts, Jesus 56:3 added: "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness." Jesus" concessions (in certain cases) to material methods were for the advancement of 56:6 spiritual good.
Marriage temporal
Marriage is the legal and moral provision for genera- tion among human kind. Until the spiritual creation 56:9 is discerned intact, is apprehended and under- stood, and His kingdom is come as in the vision of the Apocalypse, - where the corporeal sense of crea- 56:12 tion was cast out, and its spiritual sense was revealed from heaven, - marriage will continue, subject to such moral regulations as will secure increasing virtue.
Fidelity required
56:15 Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge of all races, "the pestilence that walketh in darkness, ... the destruction that wasteth at noonday."
56:18 The commandment, "Thou shalt not com- mit adultery," is no less imperative than the one, "Thou shalt not kill."
57:1 Chast.i.ty is the cement of civilization and progress.
Without it there is no stability in society, and without it 57:3 one cannot attain the Science of Life.
Mental elements
Union of the masculine and feminine qualities consti- tutes completeness. The masculine mind reaches a 57:6 higher tone through certain elements of the feminine, while the feminine mind gains cour- age and strength through masculine qualities. These 57:9 different elements conjoin naturally with each other, and their true harmony is in spiritual oneness. Both s.e.xes should be loving, pure, tender, and strong. The attrac- 57:12 tion between native qualities will be perpetual only as it is pure and true, bringing sweet seasons of renewal like the returning spring.
Affection"s demands
57:15 Beauty, wealth, or fame is incompetent to meet the demands of the affections, and should never weigh against the better claims of intellect, good- 57:18 ness, and virtue. Happiness is spiritual, born of Truth and Love. It is unselfish; therefore it cannot exist alone, but requires all mankind to 57:21 share it.
Help and discipline
Human affection is not poured forth vainly, even though it meet no return. Love enriches the nature, en- 57:24 larging, purifying, and elevating it. The wintry blasts of earth may uproot the flowers of affec- tion, and scatter them to the winds; but this severance 57:27 of fleshly ties serves to unite thought more closely to G.o.d, for Love supports the struggling heart until it ceases to sigh over the world and begins to unfold its wings for 57:30 heaven.
Marriage is unblest or blest, according to the disap- pointments it involves or the hopes it fulfils. To happify 58:1 existence by constant intercourse with those adapted to elevate it, should be the motive of society. Unity of 58:3 spirit gives new pinions to joy, or else joy"s drooping wings trail in dust.
Chord and discord
Ill-arranged notes produce discord. Tones of the 58:6 human mind may be different, but they should be con- cordant in order to blend properly. Unselfish ambition, n.o.ble life-motives, and purity, - 58:9 these const.i.tuents of thought, mingling, const.i.tute in- dividually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence.
Mutual freedom
58:12 There is moral freedom in Soul. Never contract the horizon of a worthy outlook by the selfish exaction of all another"s time and thoughts. With ad- 58:15 ditional joys, benevolence should grow more diffusive. The narrowness and jealousy, which would confine a wife or a husband forever within four walls, will 58:18 not promote the sweet interchange of confidence and love; but on the other hand, a wandering desire for incessant amus.e.m.e.nt outside the home circle is a poor augury for 58:21 the happiness of wedlock. Home is the dearest spot on earth, and it should be the centre, though not the bound- ary, of the affections.
A useful suggestion
58:24 Said the peasant bride to her lover: "Two eat no more together than they eat separately." This is a hint that a wife ought not to court vulgar extravagance 58:27 or stupid ease, because another supplies her wants. Wealth may obviate the necessity for toil or the chance for ill-nature in the marriage relation, but noth- 58:30 ing can abolish the cares of marriage.
Differing duties
"She that is married careth ... how she may please her husband," says the Bible; and this is the pleasantest 59:1 thing to do. Matrimony should never be entered into without a full recognition of its enduring obligations on 59:3 both sides. There should be the most tender solicitude for each other"s happiness, and mu- tual attention and approbation should wait on all the years 59:6 of married life.
Mutual compromises will often maintain a compact which might otherwise become unbearable. Man should 59:9 not be required to partic.i.p.ate in all the annoyances and cares of domestic economy, nor should woman be ex- pected to understand political economy. Fulfilling the 59:12 different demands of their united spheres, their sympa- thies should blend in sweet confidence and cheer, each partner sustaining the other, - thus hallowing the union 59:15 of interests and affections, in which the heart finds peace and home.
Trysting renewed
Tender words and unselfish care in what promotes the 59:18 welfare and happiness of your wife will prove more salutary in prolonging her health and smiles than stolid indifference or jealousy. Husbands, hear this 59:21 and remember how slight a word or deed may renew the old trysting-times.
After marriage, it is too late to grumble over incompati- 59:24 bility of disposition. A mutual understanding should exist before this union and continue ever after, for decep- tion is fatal to happiness.