Golden Text
89For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.
105. . . Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Responsive Reading
John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Matt. 4:17. . . Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
7:7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
24. . . whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Section 1
The Bible
II Corinthians 4:6 God
6God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16, 17, 34 he
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
34he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
John 8:31, 32
31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 14:12 (to 1st ;)
12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
I Corinthians 2:12, 13
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesby Mary Baker Eddy
275:6–12
The starting-point of divine Science is that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other might nor Mind, — that God is Love, and therefore He is divine Principle.
To grasp the reality and order of being in its Science, you must begin by reckoning God as the divine Principle of all that really is.
335:27–29
The one
divine Mind
Reality is spiritual, harmonious, immutable, immortal, divine, eternal. Nothing unspiritual can be real, harmonious, or eternal.
337:24
Eternal things (verities) are God’s thoughts as they exist in the spiritual realm of the real. Temporal things are the thoughts of mortals and are the unreal, being the opposite of the real or the spiritual and eternal.
135:26
Christianity as Jesus taught it was not a creed, nor a system of ceremonies, nor a special gift from a ritualistic Jehovah; but it was the demonstration of divine Love casting out error and healing the sick, not merely in the name of Christ, or Truth, but in demonstration of Truth, as must be the case in the cycles of divine light.
332:9–11 Christ, 19
Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness.
Holy Ghost
or Comforter
Jesus demonstrated Christ; he proved that Christ is the divine idea of God — the Holy Ghost, or Comforter, revealing the divine Principle, Love, and leading into all truth.
288:29
The
Christ-element
The Christ-element in the Messiah made him the Way-shower, Truth and Life.
Section 2
The Bible
Psalms 71:1 (to :), 16 I will make, 22 (to :), 23
1In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust:
16I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.
22I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God:
23My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
Psalms 33:4–6
4For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
5He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
6By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.
Matthew 4:23
23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 5:1–10, 12 (to 2nd :)
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
Science and Health
325:7
Jesus gave the true idea of being, which results in infinite blessings to mortals.
242:9, 30–32
The one
only way
There is but one way to heaven, harmony, and Christ in divine Science shows us this way. It is to know no other reality — to have no other consciousness of life — than good, God and His reflection, and to rise superior to the so-called pain and pleasure of the senses.
The finger-posts of divine Science show the way our Master trod, and require of Christians the proof which he gave, instead of mere profession.
446:25–27
Iniquity
overcome
Not human platitudes, but divine beatitudes, reflect the spiritual light and might which heal the sick.
4:3–5
What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.
264:24
Spiritual
proofs of
existence
Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love.
Section 3
The Bible
Psalms 107:8, 20
8Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Acts 10:38 God
38God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Mark 9:17, 18 (to 2nd :), 22–27 but
17And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
18And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:
22but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Science and Health
xi:9–21
The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus’ time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or “God with us,” — a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime, To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense], And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised.
350:24
The divine
life-link
“The Word was made flesh.” Divine Truth must be known by its effects on the body as well as on the mind, before the Science of being can be demonstrated. Hence its embodiment in the incarnate Jesus, — that life-link forming the connection through which the real reaches the unreal, Soul rebukes sense, and Truth destroys error.
130:32–3
Truth should not seem so surprising and unnatural as error, and error should not seem so real as truth. Sickness should not seem so real as health.
393:32
It is well to be calm in sickness; to be hopeful is still better; but to understand that sickness is not real and that Truth can destroy its seeming reality, is best of all, for this understanding is the universal and perfect remedy.
Section 4
The Bible
Luke 4:14 (to :)
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee:
Luke 15:1, 3, 8–17 what, 20 (to 1st .), 21, 22, 24
1Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
3And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
8what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
20And he arose, and came to his father.
21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Science and Health
117:15–16
Our Master taught spirituality by similitudes and parables.
316:3
Jesus as
mediator
The real man being linked by Science to his Maker, mortals need only turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood to find Christ, the real man and his relation to God, and to recognize the divine sonship. Christ, Truth, was demonstrated through Jesus to prove the power of Spirit over the flesh, — to show that Truth is made manifest by its effects upon the human mind and body, healing sickness and destroying sin.
339:28–31
To get rid of sin through Science, is to divest sin of any supposed mind or reality, and never to admit that sin can have intelligence or power, pain or pleasure.
205:15, 32
Perceiving
the divine
image
Befogged in error (the error of believing that matter can be intelligent for good or evil), we can catch clear glimpses of God only as the mists disperse, or as they melt into such thinness that we perceive the divine image in some word or deed which indicates the true idea, — the supremacy and reality of good, the nothingness and unreality of evil.
When we fully understand our relation to the Divine, we can have no other Mind but His, — no other Love, wisdom, or Truth, no other sense of Life, and no consciousness of the existence of matter or error.
317:16–20
The individuality of man is no less tangible because it is spiritual and because his life is not at the mercy of matter. The understanding of his spiritual individuality makes man more real, more formidable in truth, and enables him to conquer sin, disease, and death.
Section 5
The Bible
I John 4:7, 19
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
Mark 6:34
34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Mark 12:28–31
28And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Science and Health
241:19
The substance of all devotion is the reflection and demonstration of divine Love, healing sickness and destroying sin. Our Master said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
25:31
The divinity of the Christ was made manifest in the humanity of Jesus.
454:17–21
Love the
incentive
Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action.
496:9–14 Ask
Condition
of progress
Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good? Am I demonstrating the healing power of Truth and Love? If so, then the way will grow brighter “unto the perfect day.” Your fruits will prove what the understanding of God brings to man.
340:12
Divine Love is infinite. Therefore all that really exists is in and of God, and manifests His love.
Section 6
The Bible
Psalms 119:105, 156 (to :), 160
105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
156Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord:
160Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalms 12:6 (to :)
6The words of the Lord are pure words:
II Thessalonians 2:15–17
15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Luke 11:28 blessed
28blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Science and Health
497:3
As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
30:30–32
We cannot choose for ourselves, but must work out our salvation in the way Jesus taught.
51:19–24
Example for
our salvation
His consummate example was for the salvation of us all, but only through doing the works which he did and taught others to do. His purpose in healing was not alone to restore health, but to demonstrate his divine Principle. He was inspired by God, by Truth and Love, in all that he said and did.
354:9
The words of divine Science find their immortality in deeds, for their Principle heals the sick and spiritualizes humanity.
298:2–4
Life, Truth, and Love are the realities of divine Science. They dawn in faith and glow full-orbed in spiritual understanding.
208:20
Let us learn of the real and eternal, and prepare for the reign of Spirit, the kingdom of heaven, — the reign and rule of universal harmony, which cannot be lost nor remain forever unseen.