Golden Text
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
Responsive Reading
Isa. 52:1Awake, awake;
2Shake thyself from the dust;
3For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
6Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.
7How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;
8Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing:
10The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
58:10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
11And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Luke 1:68Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
78. . . the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Section 1
The Bible
Genesis 1:1, 27 God, 28 (to :), 31 (to 1st .)
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
27God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:
31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Deuteronomy 18:13
13Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.
Genesis 2:1, 6, 7
1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
John 6:63 (to :)
63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:
Isaiah 62:10 lift
10lift up a standard for the people.
Science and Health with Key to the Scripturesby Mary Baker Eddy
518:24–25, 27–29 (to 1st .)
Genesis i. 31. And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.
The divine Principle, or Spirit, comprehends and expresses all, and all must therefore be as perfect as the divine Principle is perfect.
475:11–13
Man is spiritual and perfect; and because he is spiritual and perfect, he must be so understood in Christian Science.
470:18, 28
The standard of perfection was originally God and man. Has God taken down His own standard, and has man fallen?
If man has lost perfection, then he has lost his perfect Principle, the divine Mind. If man ever existed without this perfect Principle or Mind, then man’s existence was a myth.
523:14–17
Distinct
documents
It may be worth while here to remark that, according to the best scholars, there are clear evidences of two distinct documents in the early part of the book of Genesis.
522:5–14, 18–21
The two
records
The first record assigns all might and government to God, and endows man out of God’s perfection and power. The second record chronicles man as mutable and mortal, — as having broken away from Deity and as revolving in an orbit of his own. Existence, separate from divinity, Science explains as impossible.
This second record unmistakably gives the history of error in its externalized forms, called life and intelligence in matter.
Erroneous
represen-
tation
In this erroneous theory, matter takes the place of Spirit. Matter is represented as the life-giving principle of the earth. Spirit is represented as entering matter in order to create man.
523:7
The creations of matter arise from a mist or false claim, or from mystification, and not from the firmament, or understanding, which God erects between the true and false. In error everything comes from beneath, not from above. All is material myth, instead of the reflection of Spirit.
267:3–5 (to 1st .)
The infinitude
of God
The offspring of God start not from matter or ephemeral dust. They are in and of Spirit, divine Mind, and so forever continue.
Section 2
The Bible
Genesis 2:8 (to ;), 16, 17, 21, 22
8And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden;
16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
21And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
Genesis 3:9, 11–13 Hast, 22 the (to 1st :), 23
9And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
11Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
22the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:
23Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Science and Health
526:14–15, 19
The first mention of evil is in the legendary Scriptural text in the second chapter of Genesis.
The “tree of knowledge” stands for the erroneous doctrine that the knowledge of evil is as real, hence as God-bestowed, as the knowledge of good. Was evil instituted through God, Love? Did He create this fruit-bearer of sin in contradiction of the first creation? This second biblical account is a picture of error throughout.
214:9–12
Adam and
the senses
Adam, represented in the Scriptures as formed from dust, is an object-lesson for the human mind. The material senses, like Adam, originate in matter and return to dust, — are proved non-intelligent.
531:29–32
The mythologic theory of material life at no point resembles the scientifically Christian record of man as created by Mind in the image and likeness of God and having dominion over all the earth.
530:17
Error’s
assumption
This myth represents error as always asserting its superiority over truth, giving the lie to divine Science and saying, through the material senses: “I can open your eyes. I can do what God has not done for you. Bow down to me and have another god. Only admit that I am real, that sin and sense are more pleasant to the eyes than spiritual Life, more to be desired than Truth, and I shall know you, and you will be mine.” Thus Spirit and flesh war.
533:26–30
False
womanhood
Truth, cross-questioning man as to his knowledge of error, finds woman the first to confess her fault. She says, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat;” as much as to say in meek penitence, “Neither man nor God shall father my fault.”
532:10
Adam and his progeny were cursed, not blessed; and this indicates that the divine Spirit, or Father, condemns material man and remands him to dust.
338:30
From this it follows that Adam was not the ideal man for whom the earth was blessed. The ideal man was revealed in due time, and was known as Christ Jesus.
Section 3
The Bible
Romans 8:1, 14, 16
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Zechariah 2:13
13Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Matthew 4:17 Jesus
17Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 9:2–8
2And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
5For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
6But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
7And he arose, and departed to his house.
8But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
Matthew 11:2–5
2Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
3And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
John 12:32
32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Science and Health
95:30–32
Spiritual
awakening
Material sense does not unfold the facts of existence; but spiritual sense lifts human consciousness into eternal Truth.
476:13–15
Mortals are not fallen children of God. They never had a perfect state of being, which may subsequently be regained.
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.
55:22
The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ’s cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.
496:15
Hold perpetually this thought, — that it is the spiritual idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing, based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, overlying, and encompassing all true being.
390:32
Rise in the conscious strength of the spirit of Truth to overthrow the plea of mortal mind, alias matter, arrayed against the supremacy of Spirit. Blot out the images of mortal thought and its beliefs in sickness and sin. Then, when thou art delivered to the judgment of Truth, Christ, the judge will say, “Thou art whole!”
Section 4
The Bible
Psalms 3:3 thou
3thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Psalms 27:5
5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
I Corinthians 15:21 since, 22
21since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Luke 4:14
14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
Luke 8:41, 42, 49–55 (to :)
41And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a-dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway:
Science and Health
259:6–11 The
The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow, — thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying.
318:5–9, 12–13, 18
What
the senses
originate
Corporeal senses define diseases as realities; but the Scriptures declare that God made all, even while the corporeal senses are saying that matter causes disease and the divine Mind cannot or will not heal it.
We must silence this lie of material sense with the truth of spiritual sense.
Sickness
as discord
Weary of their material beliefs, from which comes so much suffering, invalids grow more spiritual, as the error — or belief that life is in matter — yields to the reality of spiritual Life.
428:19–29
We must realize the ability of mental might to offset human misconceptions and to replace them with the life which is spiritual, not material.
The present
immortality
The great spiritual fact must be brought out that man is, not shall be, perfect and immortal. We must hold forever the consciousness of existence, and sooner or later, through Christ and Christian Science, we must master sin and death. The evidence of man’s immortality will become more apparent, as material beliefs are given up and the immortal facts of being are admitted.
495:2–3, 16
Followers
of Jesus
Truth casts out error now as surely as it did nineteen centuries ago.
Steadfast and
calm trust
Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science, instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of being, and this understanding will supplant error with Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence discord with harmony.
60:2
Science inevitably lifts one’s being higher in the scale of harmony and happiness.
Section 5
The Bible
Judges 5:12 3rd awake (to 2nd :)
12awake, awake, utter a song:
John 12:44, 46
44Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 16:33
33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Science and Health
43:27
The divine must overcome the human at every point. 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.
258:1–3, 13–15
A mortal, corporeal, or finite conception of God cannot embrace the glories of limitless, incorporeal Life and Love.
God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis.
393:12
Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.
Section 6
The Bible
Psalms 36:5
5Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Psalms 24:3, 4 (to ;), 5
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;
5He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Psalms 20:8 we
8we are risen, and stand upright.
Jude 1:24, 25 (to 1st .)
24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
Science and Health
282:28
Truth is not
inverted
Whatever indicates the fall of man or the opposite of God or God’s absence, is the Adam-dream, which is neither Mind nor man, for it is not begotten of the Father. The rule of inversion infers from error its opposite, Truth; but Truth is the light which dispels error. As mortals begin to understand Spirit, they give up the belief that there is any true existence apart from God.
258:27
Individual
permanency
Never born and never dying, it were impossible for man, under the government of God in eternal Science, to fall from his high estate.
200:9–13, 16
A mortal
not man
Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for Life is God, and man is the idea of God, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust.
The great truth in the Science of being, that the real man was, is, and ever shall be perfect, is incontrovertible; for if man is the image, reflection, of God, he is neither inverted nor subverted, but upright and Godlike.