Article August 3, 1918 Issue

The Kingdom of Heaven

ESTELLE MORELAND HUNTER

There is no doubt that mankind is seeking the kingdom of heaven which Jesus declared was at hand. He said, "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, defines "heaven" in Science and Health (p. 590) as "the reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme." We necessarily conclude that in order to enter into the kingdom of harmony, which is the realm of unerring Mind, one must be possessed of the understanding of what constitutes this state of consciousness, namely, freedom from all discord.

Jesus also declared, "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." In a following verse he continues, "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." In the scientific interpretation of "angels," as given in the textbook of Christian Science, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 581), we find: "God's thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect;" consequently we conclude that Jesus was pointing out that the child thought, which intuitively recognizes good in everything it is not wrongly warned against, is an illustration of the thought to be attained in order that we may enter the kingdom of heaven—harmony.

The infant sees the flower of the so-called poisonous plant, and with a little ejaculation of delight proceeds to pluck it, and often to put it into his mouth, utterly unconscious of any quality but good in it until the fear of parent or guardian, inculcated by false education of material life, so called, comes in excitedly to warn the little one of the impending danger. Many instances have been cited of utter fearlessness in the child consciousness. Children have often been found playing with animals considered dangerous, with no thought of anything but good and love; consequently no harm or discord, the opposite of harmony, could come in. The child thinks every one his friend, giving trust and confidence. A sister-in-law of the writer was once horrified to enter her kitchen and behold an exceptionally dirty tramp sitting at the table, being served with all that the baby hands of her little boy in blue pinafore could procure.

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