Article May 5, 1917 Issue

A critic is reported as saying that Mrs. Eddy did not...

Lloyd B. Coate

Zanesville (Ohio) Sunday News

A critic is reported as saying that Mrs. Eddy did not believe in a hell; but on page 588 of the Christian Science text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," she defines hell as "mortal belief; error; lust; remorse; hatred; revenge; sin; sickness; death; suffering and self-destruction; self-imposed agony; effects of sin; that which 'worketh abomination or maketh a lie.'"

On page 160 of "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany," Mrs. Eddy wrote: "I am asked, 'Is there a hell?' Yes, there is a hell for all who persist in breaking the golden rule or in disobeying the commandments of God. Physical science has sometimes argued that the internal fires of our earth will eventually consume this planet. Christian Science shows that hidden unpunished sin is this internal fire,—even the fire of a guilty conscience, waking to a true sense of itself, and burning in torture until the sinner is consumed,—his sins destroyed. This may take millions of cycles, but of the time no man knoweth. The advanced psychist knows that this hell is mental, not material, and that the Christian has no part in it. Only the makers of hell burn in their fire."

Throughout her writings Mrs. Eddy teaches plainly that so long as sin continues, punishment will continue; hell will last as long as the belief of sin lasts. There was need of a Saviour to deliver mortals from the awful deception of sin and awaken them from the delusion of sickness. Jesus came into the world in fulfilment of prophecy, demonstrating that Christ, Truth, could heal the sick, reform the sinner, and destroy every thought unlike God, infinite good.

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