Responsive Reading
II Kings 6:8 the, 9, 11, 12, 13 And it, 14 (to :), 15–17
8. . . the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13. . . And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host:
15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Section 1
The Bible
Job 11:7
7Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection?
Ecclesiastes 3:14 (to 2nd :)
14I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:
Psalms 143:10 thou (to 2nd ;)
10thou art my God: thy spirit is good;
Hebrews 11:1, 3
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
I Corinthians 13:10 when, 12
10when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
II Corinthians 4:18 we
18we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesby Mary Baker Eddy
468:16–24
Question. — What is substance?
Spiritual
synonyms
Answer. — Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay. Truth, Life, and Love are substance, as the Scriptures use this word in Hebrews: “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Spirit, the synonym of Mind, Soul, or God, is the only real substance. The spiritual universe, including individual man, is a compound idea, reflecting the divine substance of Spirit.
124:25–26 (to 1st .)
Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things.
477:7
Soul, being Spirit, is seen in nothing imperfect nor material.
233:8–9
In the midst of imperfection, perfection is seen and acknowledged only by degrees.
Section 2
The Bible
Exodus 14:13 Fear (to :)
13Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to-day:
Exodus 3:1–5
1Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
5And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
I Corinthians 2:9 Eye, 10
9Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Science and Health
96:27
Millennial
glory
As material knowledge diminishes and spiritual understanding increases, real objects will be apprehended mentally instead of materially.
278:4–5, 8, 16–19, 29–3
Substance
versus
supposition
Spirit is the only substance and consciousness recognized by divine Science.
It is a false supposition, the notion that there is real substance-matter, the opposite of Spirit. Spirit, God, is infinite, all. Spirit can have no opposite.
The admission that there can be material substance requires another admission, — namely, that Spirit is not infinite and that matter is self-creative, self-existent, and eternal.
Substance
is Spirit
We define matter as error, because it is the opposite of life, substance, and intelligence. Matter, with its mortality, cannot be substantial if Spirit is substantial and eternal. Which ought to be substance to us, — the erring, changing, and dying, the mutable and mortal, or the unerring, immutable, and immortal?
260:7
Spiritual
discovery
The conceptions of mortal, erring thought must give way to the ideal of all that is perfect and eternal. Through many generations human beliefs will be attaining diviner conceptions, and the immortal and perfect model of God’s creation will finally be seen as the only true conception of being.
267:1–2
Every object in material thought will be destroyed, but the spiritual idea, whose substance is in Mind, is eternal.
279:16–19
In proportion as the belief disappears that life and intelligence are in or of matter, the immortal facts of being are seen, and their only idea or intelligence is in God.
286:21–22
God’s thoughts are perfect and eternal, are substance and Life.
Section 3
The Bible
Proverbs 12:27 the substance
27the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Proverbs 3:7 (to :), 13
7Be not wise in thine own eyes:
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
I Samuel 16:1, 4 (to .), 6, 7, 10, 11 Are, 12
1And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Beth–lehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
4And Samuel did that which the Lord spake, and came to Beth–lehem.
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.
7But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.
10Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The Lord hath not chosen these.
11Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
12And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Isaiah 40:5 the (to :)
5the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:
Science and Health
247:12–15
Eternal
beauty
Custom, education, and fashion form the transient standards of mortals. Immortality, exempt from age or decay, has a glory of its own, — the radiance of Soul.
489:17–18
How can man, reflecting God, be dependent on material means for knowing, hearing, seeing?
301:6–12, 17–24
To himself, mortal and material man seems to be substance, but his sense of substance involves error and therefore is material, temporal.
On the other hand, the immortal, spiritual man is really substantial, and reflects the eternal substance, or Spirit, which mortals hope for.
Inverted
images
and ideas
As God is substance and man is the divine image and likeness, man should wish for, and in reality has, only the substance of good, the substance of Spirit, not matter. The belief that man has any other substance, or mind, is not spiritual and breaks the First Commandment, Thou shalt have one God, one Mind. Mortal man seems to himself to be material substance, while man is “image” (idea).
258:31–1
Through spiritual sense you can discern the heart of divinity, and thus begin to comprehend in Science the generic term man.
255:18
Eye hath not seen Spirit, nor hath ear heard His voice.
586:3
Eyes. Spiritual discernment, — not material but mental.
337:5–6, 10–11
Man reflects
the perfect
God
Material personality is not realism; it is not the reflection or likeness of Spirit, the perfect God.
According to divine Science, man is in a degree as perfect as the Mind that forms him.
521:12 We
We should look away from the opposite supposition that man is created materially, and turn our gaze to the spiritual record of creation, to that which should be engraved on the understanding and heart “with the point of a diamond” and the pen of an angel.
Section 4
The Bible
I John 1:1–3
1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 13:8
8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.
Luke 7:19–22
19And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
20When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
21And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
22Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Luke 17:20, 21
20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Hebrews 10:34 ye have
34ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Science and Health
43:28
The Science Jesus taught and lived must triumph over all material beliefs about life, substance, and intelligence, and the multitudinous errors growing from such beliefs.
38:26–30
To those buried in the belief of sin and self, living only for pleasure or the gratification of the senses, he said in substance: Having eyes ye see not, and having ears ye hear not; lest ye should understand and be converted, and I might heal you.
325:10
Indestructible
being
In Colossians (iii. 4) Paul writes: “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear [be manifested], then shall ye also appear [be manifested] with him in glory.” When spiritual being is understood in all its perfection, continuity, and might, then shall man be found in God’s image. The absolute meaning of the apostolic words is this: Then shall man be found, in His likeness, perfect as the Father, indestructible in Life, “hid with Christ in God,” — with Truth in divine Love, where human sense hath not seen man.
369:5
Man’s
entity
In proportion as matter loses to human sense all entity as man, in that proportion does man become its master. He enters into a diviner sense of the facts, and comprehends the theology of Jesus as demonstrated in healing the sick, raising the dead, and walking over the wave. All these deeds manifested Jesus’ control over the belief that matter is substance, that it can be the arbiter of life or the constructor of any form of existence.
418:5
Christian
pleading
Stick to the truth of being in contradistinction to the error that life, substance, or intelligence can be in matter. Plead with an honest conviction of truth and a clear perception of the unchanging, unerring, and certain effect of divine Science. Then, if your fidelity is half equal to the truth of your plea, you will heal the sick.
Section 5
The Bible
Isaiah 60:4 (to 1st :), 19
4Lift up thine eyes round about, and see:
19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Matthew 17:1 Jesus, 2
1Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
2And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
Luke 9:30–32, 34–36 there
30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
34there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
Deuteronomy 4:9 take (to :)
9take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life:
Science and Health
316:12 (only), 20–21
Jesus represented Christ, the true idea of God.
Christ presents the indestructible man, whom Spirit creates, constitutes, and governs.
584:4–6
The objects of time and sense disappear in the illumination of spiritual understanding, and Mind measures time according to the good that is unfolded.
275:14–15
All substance, intelligence, wisdom, being, immortality, cause, and effect belong to God.
257:12–14, 32–3
Mind creates His own likeness in ideas, and the substance of an idea is very far from being the supposed substance of non-intelligent matter.
Finite man cannot be the image and likeness of the infinite God. A mortal, corporeal, or finite conception of God cannot embrace the glories of limitless, incorporeal Life and Love.
90:8, 24–27
Mind is
substance
Divest yourself of the thought that there can be substance in matter, and the movements and transitions now possible for mortal mind will be found to be equally possible for the body. Then being will be recognized as spiritual, and death will be obsolete, though now some insist that death is the necessary prelude to immortality.
Scientific
finalities
The admission to one’s self that man is God’s own likeness sets man free to master the infinite idea. This conviction shuts the door on death, and opens it wide towards immortality.
Section 6
The Bible
Revelation 21:1, 3, 4
1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Romans 1:20 (to ;)
20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead;
Matthew 13:16 blessed (to :)
16blessed are your eyes, for they see:
Science and Health
572:23–5
Man’s present
possibilities
The Revelator had not yet passed the transitional stage in human experience called death, but he already saw a new heaven and a new earth. Through what sense came this vision to St. John? Not through the material visual organs for seeing, for optics are inadequate to take in so wonderful a scene. Were this new heaven and new earth terrestrial or celestial, material or spiritual? They could not be the former, for the human sense of space is unable to grasp such a view. The Revelator was on our plane of existence, while yet beholding what the eye cannot see, — that which is invisible to the uninspired thought.
547:28
Inspired thought relinquishes a material, sensual, and mortal theory of the universe, and adopts the spiritual and immortal.
516:4
The substance, Life, intelligence, Truth, and Love, which constitute Deity, are reflected by His creation; and when we subordinate the false testimony of the corporeal senses to the facts of Science, we shall see this true likeness and reflection everywhere.