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Enduring Friendship
There are beautiful examples of enduring friendship recorded in the Old Testament, notably those of David and Jonathan and of Naomi and Ruth. We read in the eighteenth chapter of I Samuel: "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." Then there follows the intensely interesting story of some of the ways in which Jonathan proved his love for David, even to the extent of protecting him against the efforts of his father to take David's life. And the first chapter of Ruth contains this remarkable pledge of friendly loyalty on the part of Ruth, when she said to Naomi, "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God."
In our own day, those of riper years will readily recall friendships formed in youth which have continued unbroken in spite of the efforts of error to destroy them. And yet our Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, knowing well the unstable nature of human affection, says (Retrospection and Introspection, pp. 80, 81), "There are no greater miracles known to earth than perfection and an unbroken friendship." Perhaps the reason why human friendships often do not survive the assaults of jealousy, envy, misunderstanding, and other subtle weapons used by mortal mind, is that these friendships, especially those of an ardent nature, are frequently founded on personal sense—personal possession and personal domination—rather than upon Principle.
It is written of Abraham that he "believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God." These words could only have been truly written of Abraham because he was faithful and obedient to his highest sense of divine Principle, even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his only son, a sacrifice which was not, however, required of him. It was because of fidelity to his highest understanding of God that he became known as "the Friend of God." In her definition of Abraham on page 579 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy says, "This patriarch illustrated the purpose of Love to create trust in good, and showed the life-preserving power of spiritual understanding."
Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.
![](/mediafile/file/scans/SEN/SEN_1938_040_28/SEN_1938_040_28_0001_thumb_medium.jpg)
March 12, 1938 issue
View Issue-
Leading and Following
ELLA H. HAY
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A Door to Divine Power
CARL WALTER GEHRING
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"Thy will be done"
ELIZABETH H. MARSHMAN
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"Eternal noon"
KATE W. BUCK
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Giving a Christian Science Lecture
EDITHE L. PATTERSON
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Examinations as Opportunities
CHARLES PERRY SCHAFER
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Silent Prayer
S. ELLA SHELHAMER
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The kindly remarks about the Christian Science church...
Albert E. Lombard, Committee on Publication for Southern California,
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Considerable local publicity has recently been given to a...
John Allen Northfield, Committee on Publication for Suffolk, England,
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In an issue of the News Times there appears a reprint...
Mrs. Agnes B. Vines, Acting Committee on Publication for Victoria, Australia,
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"Thy light is come"
HAZEL W. ALLEN
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Obedience to the Law of Love
Duncan Sinclair
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Enduring Friendship
George Shaw Cook
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The Lectures
with contributions from Joseph E. Wilcox, Mary Belle Clark, J. Lester Osborn
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In 1921 I had a severe attack of Spanish influenza
William Kouwenhoven
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In 1921 I was suffering from what the doctors diagnosed...
Mary A. Stephens
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Deep gratitude for all that Christian Science has done for...
Pauline F. Gomprecht
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I began the study of Christian Science in order that I...
Marguerite K. Miles
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Joyfully I testify to the healing power of Truth
Eugénie Barthélemy
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Christian Science has been my only physician for nearly...
Trueman F. Campbell
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I am very grateful for the help and sustaining power...
E. Marion Parker
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Now Is the Time to Be Grateful
MILDRED NICKERSON HALL
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Signs of the Times
with contributions from State Cordell Hull, Francis Sayre, Bryce, S. W. Mitchell