Article December 23, 1950 Issue

"OPENED ... OF HIS OWN ACCORD"

ROBERT J. MITCHELL

As we follow the angel thoughts of Love, which give us light, darkness and bondage will of their own accord disappear. It is inevitable that error should fade away in the presence of Truth and that bondage should vanish in the presence of the forever fact that man is free. Mary Baker Eddy tells us on page 581 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," that angels are "God's thoughts passing to man." These thoughts give us light, an understanding of the truth of being. In this light all illusion vanish, for there can be no darkness in light.

These basic truths of Christian Science are forcefully illustrated in the twelfth chapter of Acts, where we are told of Peter's imprisonment and deliverance. From a material standpoint the great Christian was in a hopeless predicament. He was in prison, "bound with two chains," guarded by soldiers, and a great iron gate barred his way to liberty. It seemed impossible for any human aid to reach him or deliver him from the hatred of the tyrannical ruler of the day.

When everything seemed the most hopeless and Herod was about to bring Peter forth to certain execution, "behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison." In the spiritual illumination which these angel thoughts of Love brought, it inevitably followed that Peter's bondage should be broken, and we read that "his chains fell off from his hands." As Peter arose and followed the "spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect" (Science and Health, p. 581), even the great iron gate, the material symbol of bondage, "opened ... of his own accord." Peter did not have to do anything material; he just followed the angel of God's presence and was free.

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"OPENED ... OF HIS OWN ACCORD"

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