Article September 15, 1917 Issue

Man's God-given Dominion

JUDGE CLIFFORD P. SMITH

To practice Christian Science, or even to study it intelligently, every student needs continually to observe the distinction it makes between reality and illusion, and especially to notice this distinction in its application to man. Thus applied, it is the difference between the consistent man, whose sole Principle is divine, and the human personalities who seem to be made up of qualities that are neither consistent with each other nor with any consistent cause. Examining this incongruity, Christian Science finds that the line between reality and illusion must be drawn in the so-called human mind, and the separation it makes therein turns out to be of utmost value to humankind. By the same process this Science both restores and fulfills the religion of Christ.

In the light of Mrs. Eddy's explication it is to be observed that Christianity was originally based on the truth or reality of being. Its basic requirement was the knowledge of the truth concerning God and man; and we are informed by standard authors that the Greek word in the gospel according to John which is translated "the truth" denotes absolute reality as opposed to what is merely apparent, seeming, or false. Notice these sayings: "For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly." "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." These sayings of the Master, the second of which is quoted from the Revised Version, imply that the human or mortal sense of life and man is false, and that abundant and eternal life and the freedom of real manhood are to be gained by finding and realizing the truth of being. According to the teaching of Christ Jesus, all the possibilities of being exist now and for us.

Our present situation was stated by John in these words: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be." He did not mean that we shall ever be different from what we really are. He meant that we are the sons of God, though the reality of being doth not yet appear. He did not foresee a loss of identity; he discerned the realization of true identity. Mrs. Eddy applied the same discernment when she said, "Sin, sickness, and death must disappear to give place to the facts which belong to immortal man" (Science and Health, p. 476).

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