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CONSECRATION
IT is very interesting to notice, according to Young's Concordance, that in the original text of the Bible the word "consecrate" has a different meaning in the Old Testament and in the New. In the Old, the word means to devote, to separate, to set apart. In the New it occurs only twice, and then means to make new and to make perfect. This is surely significant, and typical of the manner in which mankind have regarded the thought of consecration as detailed in Bible history and in religious life.
In times past certain days were devoted to God, certain people separated for God's service, certain animals, vessels, etc., set apart for God. As in the community, so in the case of the individual,—one's first idea was that it was enough to set apart, consecrate, special days, one day a week, and of that only a few hours in which to think of God and higher things. Again, five minutes more or less were to be devoted to God. Gradually, as one grew spiritually. more time, more money were to be given and we were to separate more from the world. But what a deep and searching meaning is given to the word as we gain its higher meaning. If we are consecrated, we are to be perfect. Every day, every hour, every minute, is to be consecrated to God, good! This does not mean that we are to be physically separated from the world, or that we are to be engaged only in the orthodox conception of "Christian work," but that we are, as Paul tells us, to "walk in the Spirit," see the spiritual reality always and not the seeming discords; that we are to "abide" in Christ, Truth, and hold to the truth of being, whatever the lie of mortal sense may tell us.
Mrs. Eddy says in Science and Health (p. 428), "We should consecrate existence . . . to the eternal builder, the everlasting Father, to the Life which mortal sense cannot impair nor mortal belief destroy." If we consecrate every thought to God, good, Love,—"bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ,"—then the deeds and words, yea, the whole life will become consecrated, as the inevitable result; until spiritual sense has "quenched all earthly yearnings" (Science and Health, p. 314), and we become consciously one with God, even as Christ is one with the Father.
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October 17, 1908 issue
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WORKING OUT ONE'S SALVATION
PROF. JOEL RUFUS MOSLEY.
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SCIENTIFIC CHRISTIANITY
C. A. QUINCY NORTON
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REGRET OVERCOME
ADA J. MILLER
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OUR LESSON-SERMONS
FRANK B. HOMANS
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SUPPLY THROUGH RIGHT THINKING
GENEVA MARY CLIPPINGER
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CONSECRATION
L. T. EADY
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THE RIVER OF TEARS
EVELYN GAGE KNIFFIN
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Whatever may be said of Christian Science, for or...
Marion Howard Brazier
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I wish to protest against the bad habit to which the press...
Frederick Dixon
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The history of the Christian Science movement and of...
Luther P. Cudworth
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Christian Science, as the name implies, is a system of...
A. W. Mainland
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When Christ Jesus healed one who was blind and dumb,...
Frank W. Gale
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MRS. EDDY TAKES NO PATIENTS
Editor
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THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
ARCHIBALD MCLELLAN
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WHICH IS THE REAL?
ANNIE M. KNOTT
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THE DISPLAY OF DISEASE
JOHN B. WILLIS
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LECTURE IN THE MOTHER CHURCH
Editor
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LETTERS TO OUR LEADER
with contributions from THE USHERS OF THE MOTHER CHURCH, MARY B. G. EDDY, Lillian Cole, Albert L. McBride, Grace R. Knapp, Marguerita W. Smith, J. E. McDonald, Effa L. Murphey, William M. Goodwin
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THE LECTURES
with contributions from Fraser Metzger, Emma Hahn, Professor Lautner, Charles H. Welsh
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OMNIPRESENCE
JOHN M. DEAN
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I should like to testify to the healing of two little girls...
Ruth Smith Williams
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I was first attracted to Christian Science about two...
W. G. Stephens
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I had suffered for years with an affliction in the form of...
Cora Margaret Rossbach
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I have long felt a desire to express my gratitude for...
Elizabeth Russell
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I want to tell of some of the healing that has been done...
Seldon E. Richardson
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Fifteen years ago the world looked very dark to...
Christine Hansen
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Four years ago I was sick and very unhappy
Neil Warner
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It is with a heart full of gratitude that I tell what Christian Science...
Isola J. Macdougall
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Words fail me when I try to tell what Christian Science...
Mattie Schnessler
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It is with a very thankful heart that I give this testimony...
Rhoda M. Johnson
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FROM OUR EXCHANGES
with contributions from P. Gavan Duffy, Edward B. Pollard