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"What is man?"
The question, What is man? has often been asked by thinkers since the Psalmist propounded it, and the comprehensive answer given to this infinitely significant query on page 475 of Science and Health leaves no point untouched as to man's origin and destiny, and shows how the apprehension of the truth of his being solves all problems. Christian Science encourages us to think rightly. It leads us to think of a perfect creator, and to reject the sense-testimony which would argue an imperfect creation, including man. Our text-book scientifically and devoutly points to the life of Jesus, from his immaculate conception to his victory over death and the grave, as the exemplification in human history of the ideal man. It shows us that as his victories were gained by unwavering obedience to Spirit and spiritual law, so also must our triumphs over the flesh and over evil be won. Christian Science is emphatic in declaring that there is salvation in no other way.
Human sense has made the mistake of presenting a counterfeit of man, and has expected to realize from this false concept results which can be predicated only of the ideal man, — the divine image and likeness. St. Paul saw clearly that the false concept — the mortal — is not the real man. He says, "They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God," and he therefore insists that the "old man" must be "put off." That this is a practical as well as a vital question, is made very clear in Christian Science, and the right understanding of it heals both sickness and sin. Our text-book teaches that the true man is governed by spiritual law, not by asserted material laws, and this statement is supported by the teaching and practice of the Master. Why else did he say, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink"? Did he not direct thought away from subservience to the body, and point the way to dominion over it; viz., by obedience to "the law of the Spirit of life," — which makes "free from the law of sin and death"? No one would deny that he who follows most closely the example of Christ Jesus best understands his teaching: indeed his teaching can be understood only as it is practised.
The service of the material body is not the service of God, and it does not bring freedom. Divine service, —mental obedience to moral and spiritual law, — this alone can give freedom, including dominion over the body. It also reveals the infinite possibilities of the ideal man.
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
March 10, 1906 issue
View Issue-
"As a man thinketh"
LEWIS C. STRANG.
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The Wednesday Evening Meeting
HORACE W. HEBBARD.
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An Offering
WINIFRED BORLEE.
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The Real and the Unreal
J. R. Mosley
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The belief in the unreality of matter would little profit...
W. C. WILLIAMS
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The proof that Christian Scientists do not "dishonor God"...
John L. Rendall
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The reasoning of Christian Science appears "fallacious"...
H. Cornell Wilson
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A mathematician, correcting the errors in a mathematical...
James A. Logwood
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While no Christian Scientist claims to be perfect, every...
Charles K. Skinner
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The Lectures
with contributions from James G. Riddick, J.A. Plummer, Willard Scott
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Among the Churches
with contributions from John V. Dittemore
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A Letter from our Leader
Mary Baker Eddy
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The Mind which was in Christ Jesus
Archibald McLellan
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"It doth not yet appear"
John B. Willis
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"What is man?"
Annie M. Knott
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Letters to our Leader
with contributions from Bliss Knapp, George H. Kinter, Albert Quincy Carter, Caroline S. Bates, Clarence W. Chadwick
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The spiritual light which I have received through the...
Caroline Camp
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I was for more than two years a sufferer from nervous...
George W. Odell
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Christian Science came to me in a time of sorrow, when...
Hannah Matthes
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Though gratitude is best shown by earnest effort to reflect...
Carlotta Scobey Signor
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It is over a year since I put my trust in God and in...
C. E. Halverstadt
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Christian Science has brought me more blessings than...
Amelia A. Maelzer
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Before reading Christian Science literature I was in an...
Carrie F. Howe
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After many years of shifting, doubt, and indifference, in...
George W. Cushing
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I first heard of Christian Science about fifteen years ago...
J. Raymond Prosser
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Have you ever had your day suddenly turn sunshiny...
Maltbie D. Babcock
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From our Exchanges
Robert S. MacArthur
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Notices
with contributions from Stephen A. Chase