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Perfect Divine Government
Christian Science reveals to the student the perfect nature of God and the perfect nature of His spiritual creation, and shows him that this, the only real creation, is sustained and governed by His unchangeable and perfect law. Thus, the Christian Scientist understands that God governs His creation perfectly. And as God's creation includes spiritual man, man is perpetually sustained and perfectly governed by divine law. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 295 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": "God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves, and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them." The Christian Scientist entertains no doubt on the question of divine government. To him there is no other real government. And because of this he is assured of the perfection and immortality of man.
Now perfect government should result in perfect harmony. But what do we find in human experience? Apparently all manner of inharmony—sickness prevalent among men, with its discomfort and suffering; sin playing havoc with the health and happiness of many; envy, jealousy, hatred, anger, revenge, undermining the foundations of true manhood; fear paralyzing righteous effort. Thus, while in human experience we see good blessing mankind in multitudinous ways, we also seem to see evil as real and as active as good, destroying the harmony and peace of men. Indeed, human experience presents many conditions which cannot possibly be said to be God-governed, conditions utterly at variance with perfect government.
Human experience, then, often seems to contradict what divine Science declares to be true. What is the explanation of the seeming contradiction? Christian Science declares that it is to be found in the erroneous nature, the entirely false nature, of material sense. For it is material sense which would delude us; which would seek to convince us that matter is real, that it is governed by material law, that it is something other than mortal thought, and that it possesses power. But as our revered Leader says (Science and Health, p. 282), "There is no inherent power in matter; for all that is material is a material, human, mortal thought," which, she adds, is "always governing itself erroneously." That is the explanation.
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June 17, 1933 issue
View Issue-
Annual Meeting of The Mother Church
with contributions from Ralph O. Brewster, Mary G. Ewing, The Christian Science Board of Directors, Edward L. Ripley
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Perfect Divine Government
Duncan Sinclair
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Volition
Violet Ker Seymer
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The Lectures
with contributions from Julia Brink Hughes, Ralph E. Rohn, Raymond Bishop Canfield, Mark Howarth, Philip C. Cater, Jessie Green, Richard C. Molloy, Beatrice England, Walter C. Smith, Arthur E. Russ
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For over eighteen years Christian Science has been my...
Walter Tabrum
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Daily I strive to express my gratitude for the many healings...
Jessie M. Meyer
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I should like to add my thanksgiving and praise to God,...
Christina Johnstone Smith
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I have found Christian Science to be true, and I am filled...
Lousia S. Wells
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When Christian Science came to me I was in mental...
Nellie B. Coffelt
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I have received many blessings through the study and...
William George Faulds
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My heart knows no bounds for the joy that Christian Science...
Teresa M. Wagner
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The Advent of Love
E. MARY RAMSAY
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Signs of the Times
Annie M. Knott