GLEANINGS FROM CHRISTIAN SCIENCE

NIELS PEDERSEN.

[A year ago I heard a lecture on Christian Science, and was convinced that it is the truth. I came from Denmark, a young man, twenty-two years ago, and learned to speak English fairly well, but before I became interested in Christian Science I could not correspond in English. Through the study of this truth I have begun to realize that there is only one intelligence, and that this is God; that God is everywhere present, and as man is made in His image, this divine intelligence is ours to reflect. This is my first attempt to write an article in English, and words cannot express my gratitude to God, and to Mrs. Eddy for this awakening to man's true sonship.]

Through the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," by Mrs. Eddy, the Bible has become clearer to me, and I stumble no longer in darkness. Christian Science stands for love and truth. It would not be Christian if it did not express love, and it would not be scientific if it were not the truth. When we begin to live up to its teachings, and to reflect divine Truth and Love, we can demonstrate this Science, and it never fails when we follow its rules. We sometimes fail to reflect Truth and Love; then the failure is not with Science, but with us. Love is the whole commandment to man. God is Love. How can we possibly conceive or think of God as anything less than Love? God is Mind, and man as the reflection of God must reflect the Mind that is God.

Christian Science shows us very clearly what love stands for. In Science and Health, page 256, we read, "Love, the divine Principle, is the Father and Mother of the universe, including man." As we rise above the human sense of love into the spiritual sense of Life and Love, the true reflection of God, which is the new birth, takes place. Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Then we begin to see our brother in the true light, and no matter what mortal man may say or do against us, we do not lay it to his charge, for we understand that he does not know what he does or says, as he is still asleep in the material dream, thinking that life is in matter and that death is as real as life. He has a selfish sense which loves one and hates another, and which sees his own gain in another's loss.

In Christian Science we realize that we cannot be benefited ourselves if it is not to the benefit of our brother. "God is no respecter of persons." He loves all His children alike; there can be no partiality in divine Mind, and how could there be any in His idea when we reflect God. What a blessing Truth brings! It is the open fount from which all blessings flow, all wisdom, all life, all goodness. It was the Mind that was in Christ Jesus which enabled him to say, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do," when mortal sense was trying to kill him. Then was love shown to be the law that destroys death. Let us always declare that love, let that same Mind be in us, — the Mind that recognizes no material law, the Mind that speaks good cheer to all, that said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house."

We have the glorious promise that those who believe in the Christ shall do the same works which Jesus did. It is the same Christ that is with us today, and will be with us until the end of the world; but in order to do the works which the Master did, and commanded his followers to do, we must overcome the world and the will of the flesh, for "the flesh lusteth against the Spirit;" and we must realize that there is only one Mind and that in divine Mind there is no sin.

To reflect God's likeness, we must strive each day to do the will of our Father, and His will is to reflect love to all. The way to heaven is through love and truth. In the Sermon on the Mount we read these words: "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you." In the same chapter we read: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." We cannot become perfect in a day; we must strive each day to declare the truth, to reflect love; to take no thought for the morrow nor for the past, but spend each day with the Lord, no matter where we are nor what our work may be.

We should seek divine guidance and rise from where we are through the reflection of love, for the Mind that is God, all good, does not know evil or error, for error is nothing to be known or remembered. All our thoughts should be of Truth and Love. We must shut the door to material sense, so that no evil can enter, and be filled with that sense of love which destroys all fear and worry and anxiety, for the Mind that was in Christ Jesus brings the peace that passeth understanding. Wisdom and understanding come to us from divine Mind, and show us the way. How could the Mind that is God, the Mind that was in Christ Jesus, and should be in us, bring death? Sin brings death; not Truth and Love!

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