Responsive Reading
II Thessalonians 2:1–3 (to :); Ephesians 4:1–3 walk, 13–15, 29, 31, 32
II Thess. 2:1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3Let no man deceive you by any means:
Eph. 4:1. . . walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Section 1
The Bible
Deuteronomy 11:1 thou, 16
1thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
16Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
Psalms 18:31 (to 1st ?)
31For who is God save the Lord?
Proverbs 3:5–7
5Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
Luke 12:2
2For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Psalms 91:2, 10, 11
2I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesby Mary Baker Eddy
228:25 (only)
There is no power apart from God.
339:7–10
Evil not pro-
duced by God
Since God is All, there is no room for His unlikeness. God, Spirit, alone created all, and called it good. Therefore evil, being contrary to good, is unreal, and cannot be the product of God.
207:8–10
God is not the creator of an evil mind. Indeed, evil is not Mind. We must learn that evil is the awful deception and unreality of existence.
469:20
We can have but one Mind, if that one is infinite. We bury the sense of infinitude, when we admit that, although God is infinite, evil has a place in this infinity, for evil can have no place, where all space is filled with God.
103:15–23 (to 1st .)
The maximum of good is the infinite God and His idea, the All-in-all. Evil is a suppositional lie.
The genus
of error
As named in Christian Science, animal magnetism or hypnotism is the specific term for error, or mortal mind. It is the false belief that mind is in matter, and is both evil and good; that evil is as real as good and more powerful. This belief has not one quality of Truth.
97:21–22
The broadest facts array the most falsities against themselves, for they bring error from under cover.
446:24–25
Resisting evil, you overcome it and prove its nothingness.
Section 2
The Bible
Nahum 1:9 (to :)
9What do ye imagine against the Lord? he will make an utter end:
James 3:17 the
17the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Proverbs 12:17, 19, 20
17He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
19The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
II Corinthians 10:4, 5
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Science and Health
130:26–32
All evil
unnatural
If thought is startled at the strong claim of Science for the supremacy of God, or Truth, and doubts the supremacy of good, ought we not, contrariwise, to be astounded at the vigorous claims of evil and doubt them, and no longer think it natural to love sin and unnatural to forsake it, — no longer imagine evil to be ever-present and good absent?
339:32
Our various theories will never lose their imaginary power for good or evil, until we lose our faith in them and make life its own proof of harmony and God.
100:1–2, 6–7 (next page)
Mesmerism or animal magnetism was first brought into notice by Mesmer in Germany in 1775.
His propositions were as follows:
“There exists a mutual influence between the celestial bodies, the earth, and animated things. Animal bodies are susceptible to the influence of this agent, disseminating itself through the substance of the nerves.”
In 1784, the French government ordered the medical faculty of Paris to investigate Mesmer’s theory and to report upon it. Under this order a commission was appointed, and Benjamin Franklin was one of the commissioners. This commission reported to the government as follows:
“In regard to the existence and utility of animal magnetism, we have come to the unanimous conclusions that there is no proof of the existence of the animal magnetic fluid; that the violent effects, which are observed in the public practice of magnetism, are due to manipulations, or to the excitement of the imagination and the impressions made upon the senses; and that there is one more fact to be recorded in the history of the errors of the human mind, and an important experiment upon the power of the imagination.”
102:30–31
Mankind must learn that evil is not power. Its so-called despotism is but a phase of nothingness.
353:10
All must admit that Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” and that omnipotent Truth certainly does destroy error.
103:6–9
Liberation
of mental
powers
The destruction of the claims of mortal mind through Science, by which man can escape from sin and mortality, blesses the whole human family.
Section 3
The Bible
Psalms 27:1, 3 (to :)
1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear:
Daniel 6:1, 2 (to :), 3–7, 9–11, 13–16, 19–23
1It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
2And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first:
3Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
7All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
19Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
Science and Health
167:17
To have one God and avail yourself of the power of Spirit, you must love God supremely.
514:26–28
Understanding the control which Love held over all, Daniel felt safe in the lions’ den, and Paul proved the viper to be harmless.
464:23–24
The right
motive and
its reward
The weapons of bigotry, ignorance, envy, fall before an honest heart.
186:19–20
The only power of evil is to destroy itself. It can never destroy one iota of good.
384:3–6
Corporeal
penalties
We should relieve our minds from the depressing thought that we have transgressed a material law and must of necessity pay the penalty. Let us reassure ourselves with the law of Love.
102:1–3
Animal magnetism has no scientific foundation, for God governs all that is real, harmonious, and eternal, and His power is neither animal nor human.
192:21–24 (to 1st .)
Your influence for good depends upon the weight you throw into the right scale. The good you do and embody gives you the only power obtainable.
Section 4
The Bible
I John 4:1 (to :)
1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
Deuteronomy 13:6–8 (to ;)
6If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;
7Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;
8Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him;
Proverbs 2:11–13, 20
11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
13Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
Matthew 7:12–14 all
12all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Science and Health
82:31–2
In a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power, it is wise earnestly to consider whether it is the human mind or the divine Mind which is influencing one.
71:1
Nothing is real and eternal, — nothing is Spirit, — but God and His idea. Evil has no reality. It is neither person, place, nor thing, but is simply a belief, an illusion of material sense.
103:29
Thought-
transference
In reality there is no mortal mind, and consequently no transference of mortal thought and will-power. Life and being are of God. In Christian Science, man can do no harm, for scientific thoughts are true thoughts, passing from God to man.
192:30
Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.
Section 5
The Bible
Matthew 14:14
14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matthew 12:22–28
22Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.
23And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Revelation 12:10 Now (to :)
10Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ:
I Kings 5:4 the
4the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
Science and Health
138:14–18
The supremacy of Spirit was the foundation on which Jesus built. His sublime summary points to the religion of Love.
Jesus established in the Christian era the precedent for all Christianity, theology, and healing.
422:2
Wiser than his persecutors, Jesus said: “If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?”
185:22, 32
Jesus and
hypnotism
Jesus cast out evil and healed the sick, not only without drugs, but without hypnotism, which is the reverse of ethical and pathological Truth-power.
False
stimulus
A patient under the influence of mortal mind is healed only by removing the influence on him of this mind, by emptying his thought of the false stimulus and reaction of will-power and filling it with the divine energies of Truth.
332:9–15 Christ, 19
The Son
of God
Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness. The Christ is incorporeal, spiritual, — yea, the divine image and likeness, dispelling the illusions of the senses; the Way, the Truth, and the Life, healing the sick and casting out evils, destroying sin, disease, and death.
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.
375:15
All unscientific mental practice is erroneous and powerless, and should be understood and so rendered fruitless. The genuine Christian Scientist is adding to his patient’s mental and moral power, and is increasing his patient’s spirituality while restoring him physically through divine Love.
Section 6
The Bible
Romans 13:1 (to :), 12
1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God:
12The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
I Thessalonians 5:17, 21–23
17Pray without ceasing.
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Science and Health
450:19–22
The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good.
293:28
Christian Science brings to light Truth and its supremacy, universal harmony, the entireness of God, good, and the nothingness of evil.
571:15–18, 19
At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil.
The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.