Spiritual Quickening

Violet Ker Seymer

In "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes (p. 189), "The supposition that Soul, or Mind, is breathed into matter, is a pantheistic doctrine that presents a false sense of existence, and the quickening spirit takes it away: revealing, in place thereof, the power and perfection of a released sense of Life in God and Life as God."

Students of Christian Science are testifying to this "released sense of Life in God." Some were formerly bound by a distressing sense of disease, moral laxity, or general ineptness. Now they find that the revelation of Christian Science brings to them a new and true sense of their spiritual identity and capability. Through the study of Mrs. Eddy's writings the old stale thinking expressed in cramped living gradually gives way to the newness of spiritual vision. "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Spiritual understanding brings to humanity the most important thing in the world—the true sense of Deity and of His likeness. This understanding lifts men's thoughts, motives, and ambitions out of the sham into the true, out of the fleeting into the enduring, thereby making them more helpful and efficient.

Christian Science has a special message to children and adults who have thus far seemed to be mentally slow, indifferent in carrying out the tasks allotted to them in school, home, or business, backward in measuring up to what was required of them. It shows them the way to lay off handicaps, the way to rise above self-reproach into spiritual self-recognition and its present demonstration.

Righteousness and joy, love and intelligence, being Mind's characteristics, are mirrored in Mind's image. They are invariable, infallible, beyond impairment. Of what avail is this heritage of good to one who appears to lack some or all of these desirable characteristics? Of no avail if he persists in thinking of himself as material and mortal, and continues to bewail his own shortcomings and to envy the achievements of others. But it is of full avail as he becomes a student of Christian Science and learns that "if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Spiritual sonship is open to all who seek it in the way which Christian Science points out. The characteristics of man as God's image are spiritually cognizable and humanly demonstrable. Nothing false or negative has any place in man's intelligence. Everything that really exists is blessed and beloved because it exists solely as the image of Love.

The conscientious Christian Scientist knows that he must renounce and denounce every least evidence of fear, self-will, or impurity. Without this consistent denouncing of error as required by the Science of being, there will be no renouncing, and without this renouncing there will be no release.

The "released sense of Life in God and Life as God" is present for all to demonstrate and to enjoy. But in view of the deceiving, belittling arguments of the carnal mind, every Christian Scientist must loyally maintain affirmative thinking from the basis of Truth. This is not a difficult task when we acknowledge that Mind maintains man in conscious loyalty to Truth and Love, and ourselves rely on Mind. Even though at times the prayer of affirmation seems to come very hesitantly to heart and lips, and infinite Love appears to be veiled by the fog of material sense, our vision and courage may be instantly renewed as we reach out in full confidence for the spirit of the Psalmist's prayer, "Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth." This reliance on Love's quickening power puts fear and doubt to shame.

The true-hearted can always freshen spiritual inspiration at the fount of Spirit. Love knows no barriers and finds entrance to every receptive heart, and it is Love itself which renders this heart receptive. Love is immeasurable, the sole power, and its reflection brings heaven to earth. To our affirmation of scientific facts we must add the spiritual certitude that divine Love endows us here and now with the loving-kindness and spiritual clarity which have never departed from man, and from which man can never depart. Now and forever "Life as God" is the only Life and is our Life, even as God is our God.

Fervent gratitude for deliverance from iniquity and physical infirmity breaks forth in the new-old assurance: "Thy word hath quickened me. ... I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me." In the twenty-third Psalm, as interpreted by our Leader (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 578), we note with rejoicing the ministering power of "Love" which "leadeth," "prepareth," "restoreth," "anointeth." "Divine love" leads us into the calm of spiritual being; prepares for us the nutriment of spiritual ideas in spite of the seeming presence of erroneous suggestions; restores to us the purity of spiritual sense; anoints our consciousness with the unspent oil of divine inspiration. This is the spiritual quickening which every student of Christian Science desires to have and can have.

Violet Ker Seymer

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Humility and Dominion

August 17, 1935

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