Association Address of 1950
by Herbert E. Rieke
Table of Contents
David — How He Overcame Limitations
To me one of the most impressive facts about the life of David is the example of true leadership. From that example we can learn many helpful lessons today, for just as competent leadership was needed centuries ago to unify the tribes of Israel and Juda, just so competent leadership is needed today in national affairs to unify nations so that peace and true security might reign.
This right kind of leadership is needed, however, not just in national and international affairs but in every phase of human experience. We need intelligent leadership in business, in our schools, in social organizations, in state and local government, in our homes, our Sunday Schools, our Christian Science Monitor Youth Forums, and in our churches.
Some Christian Scientists shy away from the idea of leadership stating that they want to think of Mary Baker Eddy as the only leader. I am sure we all recognize
M. Eddy as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. We know that she has given us the final revelation of Christ, Truth. We know that there is never any need for a personal leader of our cause, for we have been given definite rules and laws through our Church Manual. But I am sure M. Eddy expected us to demonstrate true leadership in every phase of our activity.
On page 70 of Retrospection and Introspection our Leader says: “The right teacher of Christian Science lives the truth he teaches. Preeminent among men, he virtually stands at the head of all sanitary, civil, moral, and religious reform. Such a post of duty, unpierced by vanity, exalts a mortal beyond human praise.”
In discussing true leadership, I am not speaking of personal leadership and human domination. That, of course, should never be the goal of anyone. By following the Christ, one can be a true leader in many humble phases of human experience. One does not have to be President of The United States to exercise qualities of leadership.
What was David doing when we first hear of him? That is it. He was a shepherd boy leading his sheep. This was not a very exalted position but he was a leader. The practice he had in protecting his flocks from the lions and bears prepared him for the work of protecting the children of Israel from the Philistines and other roving nomad bands.
To put off a sense of limitation, you, too, must be leaders right where you are, tenderly leading everyone you contact into greener pastures beside still waters. If you neglect these humble opportunities for true leadership you will never be given greater responsibilities.
When do we next hear of David? You all know the story of how Samuel, the prophet, comes to the house of Jesse seeking the future leader of the Hebrew people; how he turns down the older sons and finally chooses the shepherd boy, anointing him with oil.
There is a point that, none of you emphasized sufficiently in your papers. David realized that he was anointed a chosen one; that is what made him a leader and enabled him to lay off a sense of limitation. The Bible says: “And the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”
Unless you realize that you too are anointed, you will not make much progress.
Did any of you ever wish that some modern Samuel might come along and choose you and anoint you for some great work? Well, let us get this straight: you all are chosen to demonstrate true leadership and do a holy work. You were chosen to be a member of this Association, and the spirit of God does rest upon you eternally. You are anointed children of God.
You know the definition of oil in Science and Health: “Consecration; charity; gentleness; prayer; heavenly inspiration.” I pray that as the result of the unfoldments today you will be saturated with this oil until it runs down your beard also. Make yourself comfortable for you are being anointed with consecration — charity — gentleness — prayer — heavenly inspiration — the oil of gladness.
Remember that you do not choose anything — you are chosen. Jesus said: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” You do not choose to go into the Christian Science practice, for instance; you are chosen. You do not choose to be a
Reader; you are chosen. You should not even think that it was you who chose to get married. You were chosen out of all the rest of the people in the world.
As you realize that you are a chosen one, anointed of God there is then something divine about everything you think, say, and do. And, furthermore, everything works out just right.
Who would like to tell us where we next hear of David? He had learned to express harmony on the harp and was chosen to play and sing Psalms for King Saul. “And it came to pass when the evil spirit was upon Saul that David took an harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”
Now I am not saying that you must learn to play the harp “cunningly” to be leaders and to put off limitations; but I do say that you must express harmony to those about you so that they are inspired and refreshed rather than bored. You must so express yourself that people are made well. The recognition that harmony is real (exists) and that discord is unreal (does not exist) is the sure exterminator of the belief in evil spirits today as well as in the time of David.
It was undoubtedly about this time that David began to compose songs or Psalms to be sung to the king. The 23rd Psalm was possibly one of his first songs because it flowed so naturally from his own experience as a shepherd. Is it wonder that Saul was healed when David sang:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
How many of you read the article in the June issue of the Readers Digest entitled: “The Basque Sheepherder and the Shepherd Psalm?” If you have not, you will find it helpful. It shows how naturally this song flowed from his inner feeling and experience.
Or take the 29th Psalm which has been called “The song of the thunderstorm.” The inspiration comes from watching the storm and comparing its power, influence and glory to the power, influence, and glory of God:
“Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, Give into the Lord glory and strength.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
David observes a storm gathering over the Mediterranean:
“The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; The God of glory thundereth:
The Lord is upon many waters.”
The whole storm is symbolic of God’s power.
Finally the storm reaches the shore and David can see the trees bend under the blast of air:
“The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; Yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.”
It looks to David as though the whole forest is skipping around like a little calf:
“He maketh them also to skip like a calf —”
about:
Now the storm comes closer and lightning and thunder are all
“The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness —.”
Can’t you just see and hear that storm passing over and finally dying away in the wilderness of Kadesh?
Now the water is rushing down every ravine and stream, and David goes on:
“The Lord sitteth upon the flood; Yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever.”
on:
Then David realizes how this wonderful rain will refresh the earth, and goes
“The Lord will give strength unto his people;”
and then as the sun comes out, and all is still and quiet again, he concludes:
“The Lord will bless his people with peace.”
If any of you or your patients are ever troubled by fear of storms, observe how David was so busy thinking about God that he even learned a beautiful lesson from a thunderstorm.
But that kind of inspiration is not of long ago. Hear a modern David turning to the same God for inspiration:
“The highways of God are good for all that go thereon.
Righteousness, peace, a completely harmonious existence is the pathway of divine Mind’s ideas . . .
When I consider Principle’s perfect order,
I know that drivers shall rejoice in obedience to thy laws,
As I behold God as Mind, Principle, and consider how many accidents are not occurring at this instant,
Who could fail to see His abundant security, order, and control?
Though a thousand Buicks pass on my right side And ten thousand Fords pass on my left,
No car shall scratch my fenders
Neither shall any come near my bumpers.
What a wonderful universe in which to live, move, and enjoy!”
When David had a problem, he wrote a Psalm and then sang it over and over to himself and others until it eventually became a part of our Bible. To help you break down a sense of limitation in expression I suggested that you try writing a Psalm. Some of you said, “Oh, I couldn’t write a Psalm.” But you surprised yourself, didn’t you? Tolerate no limited sense of things in the way of expressing yourself. That is the only way to eliminate limitation from your experience. To tell you the truth, every Psalm submitted was more inspiring than a few of the negative Psalms in the Bible.
But let us go to our story. You know where we next find David challenging the Goliath of error, mortal mind, false theology, animal magnetism.
The whole army of Israel was standing in awe of this Goliath. But David said, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”
I am so glad to know that you are not a part of that great army of people who stand in awe of war, political corruption, false theology, sin, sickness, and death. I am so glad that you too have stepped forth to exclaim, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the army of the living God!”
Unless we challenge error, materiality, with courage, and understanding of its nothingness, in belief we become its servant or slave. We are not demonstrating true leadership when we allow matter to govern us. We are not putting off limitations when we ignore error or run away from it. Let us face error, see its nothingness, and in this way destroy it.
You will remember how Saul put his armor on David — undoubtedly the strongest armor in the army. You will remember how David discarded the armor because he had not proved it. Are you trying to imitate others in the solution of your problems? Are you trying to use the spiritual armor and weapons of others, or are you turning to divine Mind for inspiration to meet your situation with your own five little pebbles?
Our Leader has said that the time for thinkers has come. If you would like to put off limitations to be a true leader, you must pray for originality and change.
Where is the blacksmith of yesteryear? Where is the man who thought that automobiles were not here to stay? Where is the manufacturer of kerosene lamps? To be a leader you must be out in front with ideas, new ideas, fresh ideas, better ideas, powerful ideas. There are very few things that we won’t do differently and better one hundred years from now.
Just as we need new and fresh ideas in industry, just so we need fresh and new ideas in our church activity. There is too much imitation in our Movement. A well- educated young man recently complained to me that all the articles in our periodicals sound as though they were written by the same person. This isn’t entirely the fault of the editors. It is mainly the fault of Christian Scientists who are trying to imitate others in expression.
Quite recently I decided that I was going to write an article just the way I felt with no thought of trying to conform to a lot of rules. I even gave the article a rather original title which I felt fitted it — “The Horse and the Mule.” I was almost sure that the article would not be accepted and was positive that the editors would not accept the title.
But — - — the article was received on the eighth of May, was edited on the twenty-first. By July first I received the printed galley sheet with hardly a change in the text. And guess what the title of the article was — “The Horse and the Mule.” On the sheet was written “Put forward.”
Be willing to think originally. Lay off some of the cumbersome armor of metaphysics that you have not proved. Don’t imitate others. Be yourself. Choose your own weapons — ones that you can understand and use. In this way you will put off a sense of limitation.
A few years ago, people thought that every Christian Science church must be built in Grecian architecture with big stone pillars in front. It was all imitation. I’m glad we are getting away from a set pattern. Did you ever hear a testimony concluding with these remarks? “I’m grateful to God, the giver of all good; to Jesus Christ, the way-shower, and Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, who was pure enough, etc. etc.” Such lack of originality, such imitation will drive people away from our Cause rather than attract them.
Here is another important point. David did not entertain a defense complex. He went on the offensive. “David hasted and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.” Too many Christian Scientists have a defense mechanism mentality. They are building walls around themselves to keep error out. M. Eddy writes: “We must take up arms against error at home and abroad.” We are encouraged to go on the offensive to destroy error at its source. That is what David did. All of Goliath’s armor could not defend the giant against David’s weapon. Goliath was vulnerable and David slang the stone directly at that point of vulnerability. And please note that he did not sling all five stones as buckshot hoping that one would hit the mark.
In your practice don’t scatter your fire. Don’t send forth a broadside of Truth hoping that some of it might meet the case. Find the point of vulnerability, aim straight, and sling strong. Do you all know what the vulnerable point of error is? It is the realization of its nothingness. M. Eddy says on page 480 of the textbook: “If sin, sickness, and death were understood as nothingness, they would disappear.” That is what David did.
Here is another important point. David did not do it for his own glory but “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” This is the way a modern soldier of this Association puts it:
“Oh blessed and praised be the nature of our God! Blessed and magnified be the name of Principle; For Principle alone orders the events of our Life. Principle motivates the universe to do good,
To love, bless, and help one another; To move with one accord in harmony;
To think only as the one Mind gives them to think;
To appreciate the beauty, the grandeur, the purity of the universe of Soul;
To reflect the spirit of joy, of lovingkindness, and of thanksgiving;
To express the reality, permanence, and unspotted purity of Truth.
All praise and glory be to our heavenly Principle; For our God alone is present and has all power.”
Now David did a very intelligent thing which I would like to recommend to you. He went over and cut off the head of Goliath. Don’t be content to just knock error out. Follow up your treatment with the realization that error is destroyed once and for all and forever. Cut off its head so that it cannot come back to harass you or others.
Well, it looks as though David has arrived. Saul is very grateful, Jonathan loves him as his own Soul, he is accepted in the sight of all the people. He even gets to marry one of the king’s daughters. Yes, it looks as though David has demonstrated true leadership and has put off limitations.
But something happened. I’ll read it from the Bible: — “the women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing — and the women answered one another as they played and sang ‘Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.’” And that is when trouble began. Undoubtedly the women thought they were honoring David and helping him; but instead they were making it very difficult for him. Saul could not take it. He was jealous and afraid that David would take his crown. David had no such intentions. He knew that Saul was also anointed, and that of all the Father has given us it is his will that we should lose nothing. He tried again and again to help Saul see this.
If you express any true leadership, if you put off any sense of limitation, you, too, are going to have to meet this argument of jealousy. You must realize daily that of all the good God has given you, it is his will that you should lose nothing. You must realize this same truth for others and help them to appreciate this eternal law. You are not going to take any divine gift away from others; neither can they take anything away from you.
May I also caution you not to join the crowd of “women” and make the experience of others difficult by singing their praises too loudly and thus encouraging a sense of jealousy. Sometimes a Christian Science lecturer does a very good job and brings in his ten thousand whereas another only brings in thousands. If we make too much noise about it before long there is an argument of jealousy to be met. You will hear someone say, “It is all personality that people are going to hear.” If we would keep quiet about it and just be grateful for all the good accomplished, it would be so much more helpful for the lecturer and for our Cause.
Also, be sure you do not brag about your practitioner. Before long you will hear others say: “Oh, I don’t think he or she is so competent.” Appreciate good but do it quietly and in order.
May I also suggest that you do not talk too much about “your teacher.” Let your own works testify whether he is a very good teacher or not.
Did you not all love and admire Jonathan? He knew that David was going to be King rather than himself, but he was not jealous, and neither his father nor his friends could make him jealous for he loved David as his own Soul. He did everything possible to warn and protect David. There is no better picture of loyalty in the Bible than the love of Jonathan for David. Be Jonathans; love others as you love your own soul. Be as interested in the welfare and progress of others as you are for your own progress and you will immediately experience that “bigger” unlimited sense of things.
David now goes through an experience; he is pursued by Saul; but he does a very intelligent thing. He goes to the prophet Samuel. To me it was just like going to a quiet Reading Room to commune with Truth when error or hate seemed to be.
Saul sent messengers three times to take David, but each time they went away prophesying good instead. It is almost as though they came to the Reading Room to get him and sat down to read their lesson instead. Finally, Saul himself went after David and before he got away the spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied good and blessed David.
What a wonderful lesson on the subject of protection from mental malpractice we can learn from that incident. Let us dwell so securely in the secret place of the Most High that whenever anything tries to contact us or even think of our identity there wells up in thought a host of angels, protecting both their thought and ours. How good it is to realize that there is no mental malpractice! No one can think of our identity except as God, the one divine Mind, gives him to think. “Wherefore they say, is Saul also among the prophets?” He certainly is. Are your so-called enemies also among the prophets, prophesying good about you? They surely are for they are all children of the divine Mind.
David now becomes the leader of a private police force that seeks to protect the outposts of Israel from the marauding bands of thieves. This is the way the Bible reads: “And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discontented, gathered themselves (together) unto him, and he became a captain over them, and there were with him about four hundred men.” (I Sam. 22)
For those of you who are entering the Christian Science practice here is a helpful suggestion. Don’t fit yourself out with a plush office and wait for the prosperous and healthy and happy to come to you. Jesus said: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” Let your heart also go out to those that are in debt, to the distressed people, to the discontented and dissatisfied. They are eager for your message and divine leadership.
That is why I am so enthusiastic about the welfare committees in our churches. Paul said that undefiled religion includes visiting the widows and the fatherless. There are many of our members who need a word of cheer and a helping hand now and then. There is no better place for you to begin your practice, to demonstrate intelligent, loving, spiritual leadership, to prove that you are unlimited in your divine capacity for Christ-like activity.
And you do not need to confine your activity to church members. May I read from the Sentinel of July 22, page 1278: “For instance, a woman in this town was taken to a local hospital, seriously ill and facing an immediate operation. The thought had come to her that only God could pull her through this operation. Then she was astounded with the idea that if God could pull her through the operation, He certainly could heal her without an operation. She then asked a nurse to call a taxi for her, dressed at once, and left the hospital. A student of Christian Science in this town learned from this woman’s children that she had not had the scheduled operation, but instead had returned home. The Scientist felt led to call on her and present Christian Science to her. She told the sick woman that it healed today in exactly the same way that Jesus and his disciples had healed. The woman, who had never heard of Christian Science, listened with joy to her and was given the Christian Science textbook, which she read faithfully. She said that for years she had prayed for this truth: ‘God, I cannot find it; You will have to send it to me.’ And she realized that this prayer was answered when she found Christian Science. She was healed. She enrolled her children in the Sunday School and since her recovery has done healing work for others.”
All of us can do a lot more of such work and when we do our churches will overflow.
David did not go and sit under a tree and wait to be called to be the leader of Israel. He started right where he was to give spiritual inspiration to all those about him. And let me tell you this: when you can help the discontented, the distressed, and the poor in Christian Science, you can help everyone.
Many of you brought out in your papers that David was successful because he always turned to God for guidance and inspiration before he undertook anything. No better example is recorded than the time when the Philistines were robbing the threshing floors of Keilah. David turned reverently to God for guidance and he was told to go. It was probably at such a time as this that he composed the 27th Psalm:
“The 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?
Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path . . .
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”
It turned out to be a perfect campaign against crime. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
You can do a wonderful piece of work in helping the inhabitants of your community against crime, disease, and all evil through your knowledge of Science, through your wholehearted turning to God for divine direction. Will not, such a modern Psalm as this bring inspiration to many in the solution of problems?
“Divine Love protects me; what peril can be When Mind is omnipotent reality?
The shadowy claims of error give way
To the comforting light of Spirit’s bright day. Lo, in this new light new wealth I behold, Showers of goodness more precious than gold Fall in swift blessing enriching the land Where once I beheld only desertlike sand.
Ah, Mind, Thou art Wisdom, and in Wisdom I find The Principle of purity where Soul is enshrined.
In beauty and purity — how close thou art:
This thought, oh, my God, is the strength of my heart.”
One time when Saul set, out to capture David he slept in a cave where David and his men were hiding. The men wanted David to kill Saul but he would not. Instead, he cut off a piece of his garment while Saul slept and then later ran after him to show him the piece of garment and to prove that he could have killed him but did not. He asked Saul what he was coming out after, a dead dog or a flea, proving that he had no more intention of harming the Lord’s anointed than a flea would have.
Saul’s heart melted. He wept and said: “Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.” Saul saw in the noble act that David was a bigger man than he and that David would someday be king.
Remember that sometime you may have someone in the corner when you can do the petty thing or the grand unselfish deed. If you take advantage of the other man’s misfortune you are a small individual. If you do the big noble thing you are worthy of being a leader.
Now we come to a love story. There was a wealthy farmer who had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. David and his men had been giving protection to this man’s property, but when they asked for a little provision Nabal would pay nothing. David was angry and started out to kill Nabal when he was met by the wife Abigail, who came with bountiful provision for David and his men. I wish someday you would reread her speech to David. She was a pretty good Christian Scientist. Hear this: “But the Soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God.” Do you see how she was recognizing the unity of man with God, divine Life? David was impressed by her speech and kind acts and did not kill Nabal. It was not long, however, before Nabal’s heart died within him and he became as a stone. Then David married Abigail.
When individuals seem too selfish, sensual or materially minded to receive of your service, do not be resentful. Do not feel that you have to deal out human justice. Leave them alone. Error always reveals its own nothingness. If patients do not reward you for your services, don’t be resentful. You will get your reward. It might not be a beautiful wealthy, wife, but it will be a substantial reward.
After once again proving to Saul that he has no intention of harming him, David does an interesting thing. He makes friends with a Philistine king and gets himself a city of his own called Ziklag. I believe his intention is to be of service to
Saul if a war should ever break out between the Israelites and the Philistines. Such an opportunity comes but the Philistines see through his plan. While he is away, his own city is lost and the wives and children are taken away captive.
David prays to God for guidance. I like this passage: “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” He pursued the thieves and recovered all. The men that were with David were all for selfishly keeping the loot not even dividing with the men who were too weak to go on the campaign. But David insisted that each man’s possession be returned. He even sent gifts of the loot to some of the other tribes of Juda.
While this was going on Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle. Although this elevated David to kingship in Juda, he did not rejoice over the death of Saul. Instead he lamented: “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives.” See how he remembered the pleasant things and made nothing of the persecutions and jealousy of King Saul. He knew that Saul was the anointed of the Lord and he would not fight against the Lord’s anointed lest he be found fighting against God.
David is now made king of Juda. It is undoubtedly on this occasion that he wrote and sang (Psalm 16):
“Preserve me, O God; for in thee do I put my trust.
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup; thou maintainest my lot.
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.
I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel —
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Is it any wonder that a king with such thoughts should succeed?
Ishbosheth, Saul’s son, has been made king of Israel and for seven years there is a struggle between the house of David and of Saul. Then Abner, the chief of Saul’s army, comes to David to suggest a union of the two kingdoms under the leadership of David. Very soon thereafter the kingdoms are united and peace reigned in the land.
Today also we are often confronted with an argument of two or more sides, not only among nations, but also in families, business, and even in churches. Before long the sides are fighting with each other rather than with the common enemy from without. We weaken ourselves by our wars within just as Juda and Israel wasted their energy centuries ago. When others come to you and recommend a union, a harmonious solution of the problem, be as David was — ready to work for unity.
In the world today, civilization appears to be divided into two camps and there is talk of a third world war. How foolish such a war would be. It would weaken both sides and interfere with each side in conquering the common enemies of poverty, lack, limitation, crime, disease, fear, worry, and all evil.
Some day the Abners will come with deep sincerity to form a United Nations that will function. Let us be ready for that day as David was. Let us be capable of putting aside suspicion and revenge. But in the mean time, let us follow the example of David to become stronger and stronger. Let us demonstrate that kind of leadership among nations that the Abners will learn to respect.
When Joab, through revenge, fear, and suspicion killed Abner, and Baanah and Rechab killed the king of Israel, David did not rejoice. He insisted that these were not the means by which to unite Juda and Israel.
When we are tempted to want to take extra legal means to accomplish some good end in our business, our church, or in national and international affairs, let us pause for a minute and remember the example of David. Let us trust God with the unfoldments which will ultimately bring peace and security.
It is when he is made King of Israel and Juda that David wrote (Psalm 30):
“I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
Lord by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:
To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent, O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.”
Not long after this David and his troops capture the city of Jerusalem which is midway between Israel and Juda. The city had been regarded as impregnable but David’s men crawled into the city through an aqueduct and soon made Jerusalem the city of David.
David now takes steps to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, for it has been observed wherever the ark is there is found prosperity. As you know the ark contained the tablet of stone upon which Moses wrote the Ten Commandments. When the ark was brought into Jerusalem, David composed a song for the occasion and he danced and sang at the head of the procession — (Psalm 24):
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”
Can you not visualize the procession coming up the hill to Zion’s Gate, singing this song, asking the gate keepers to open the doors?
Those at the gate sing out in chorus:
“Who is this King of glory?” David and the procession shout:
“The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”
Again, the procession shouts that the everlasting doors should be opened that the King of glory might come in.
Are we today making way for the King of glory, the Lord of hosts? Are we opening our doors and helping others that the same King of glory may come in? Are we opening our thought to the recognition that the government is upon His shoulders? Are we acknowledging God as strong and mighty in battle, or are we thinking that the battle is all ours? Are we welcoming the recognition of the omnipotence of good? During these days I think it would be well to read the twenty- fourth Psalm often.
After the ark is established in the tent temple David is criticized by Michal, his wife, the daughter of Saul, for exalting God rather than himself. Little did she know that his real success depended on his exaltation of God, infinite good.
Be sure in your practice that you are giving God the glory for every healing. In your own experience acknowledge often that you can of yourself do nothing — that it is always God who is doing the works. This is so important in putting off limitations.
Here is a humble little prayer from one of our Association along this line:
“Dear God, how sweet and precious are thy ways. When waves of error would engulf and stifle me,
I turn to Thee.
I listen for Thy voice and pray to see the rays Of Truth and Love and Life.
This ends all strife. Dear loving God,
Please let me be as sweet and precious as Thou art.”
If David had been conscious of the import of that, prayer, he would have avoided a very unpleasant experience. While one of his captains was away to war, David made love to the captain’s wife. Now it was a custom in those days a man could have more than one wife but a woman could have but one husband. But this crime of adultery was not all. At first David repented and brought the captain home to be with his wife, but Uriah, the captain, did not want to take it easy while his men were fighting, and he requested that he be returned to the front. David wrote a letter to Joab, the commander of the armies, and requested that Uriah be put in a dangerous spot where he would be killed. Then David married Bathsheba the wife. He thought that he could get away with this crime, but God was displeased and sent Nathan the priest who told David a short story. I would like to read it: (II Sam.12:1-7)
“There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: . . . And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.”
Quite effective, don’t you think!
Nathan also informs David that the child will die, David repents and it is undoubtedly at this time that he wrote the 51st Psalm which reads in part:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me . . . Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. . . Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit, within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me . . . For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
That is a sincere prayer by one who needed to ask forgiveness.
It was possibly at this time that David went to the extreme in his repentance and sometimes indulged in self-debasement and got pretty well off the track of true religion. The result showed up in such negative Psalms as the 6th, 38th and 88th. I don’t think we should spend much time trying to justify such Psalms. We shall do much better to make the necessary mental corrections, and in so doing we are giving all mankind a true Christian Science treatment.
When David said: “O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure,” one of the Association wrote:
“O Lord, thou art a loving God, who is well pleased with thy child.”
When David wrote: “For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore,” she said:
“Thou dost not afflict. Thy hand lifteth me up!” But let us hear the rest of this modern Psalm:
“There is soundness in my flesh because of thy great love and care; I am at peace.
My burdens are as nothing.
My wounds are healed because of my great trust.
I shall not be troubled nor bowed down; I shall not mourn for thou art with me.
With thee, dear Lord, there is no disease, only soundness.
I am exalted and made whole by thy love; therefore there is no disquietness in my heart.
Lord, my one desire is to serve thee; my desire is not hid from thee.
Thou art the strength of my heart and the light of mine eyes.
The love for my brother-man is ever present.
My life in thee is intact; no hurt shall come near me.
Love is reflected in love.
I have heard thy call and answereth, O Lord, here am I. I will ever listen and rejoice.
For in thee, O lord, is my salvation. Thou art ever conscious of my need.
For I said, I know thou hearest me, and rejoiceth over me; my foot shall not slip, and all shall praise thy name.
For I am ready to exalt thee, and my joy is continually before me.
All iniquity and sin is past, and as nothing. I will be joyful for thy loving care.
My friends are many, and they are good; their love is multiplied by love.
There is nothing but good present, and I will follow only where Love leads.
Thou art ever present, O Lord, and will never forsake me.
Thy help, O Lord, is my salvation.”
Now wasn’t that a fine treatment for David? We received many other corrections that were equally fine and inspiring.
David truly repents and there is then born unto Bathsheba, Solomon who later becomes king.
May I assume the role of Nathan for a few minutes and tell you of the hell that comes from infidelity to the marriage vows? M. Eddy says in Science and Health on pages 56 and 57: “Infidelity to the marriage covenant is the social scourge of all races, ‘the pestilence that walketh in darkness’. . . Chastity is the cement of civilization and progress. Without it there is no stability in society, and without it, one cannot attain the Science of Life.”
Don’t get married until you have prayed very earnestly about it. Study carefully all our Leader and our Master have said on the subject. Don’t get married until you know that your marriage is going to be a credit to you and God.
Then when you get married stay married. See to it that your union is a credit to you and Christian Science. We owe it to the world to set an example as to what marriage can be and should be. It is our moral obligation to constantly uplift our concept of man, woman, and marriage.
Many of you look forward to going into the Christian Science practice. Some of you may be used as lecturers or teachers sometime. Don’t let an uninspiring unhappy marriage experience blot your record. There is an unwritten rule that no one will be appointed as a teacher or lecturer who has been divorced.
Keep your concept of marriage always uplifted. I cannot emphasize this too vigorously for some otherwise very fine people subtract from their usefulness by failing to uplift their concept of marriage to the heights of heaven.
David set a good example of love and forgiveness to all members of his family. He had a very handsome son with long curly hair. The Bible says: “In all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty.”
Amnon, one of Absalom’s brothers, commits a crime against Absalom’s sister, and Absalom kills his brother. He has to flee into another country to live. The
Bible said that the soul of King David longed to go forth into Absalom. David loved him and wanted to teach him the qualities of true leadership, for at times David thought of him as his successor. Finally Absalom is brought home and David forgives him and blesses him.
Absalom is ambitious to be king. He now begins to use a false sense of psychology to further his ends. He stands by the gate of the city and flatters everyone that comes in. He boasts what he would do if he were king. Before long he has built up for himself quite a following and eventually is crowned king in Hebron. Then he comes to take Jerusalem. David does not know who is on Absalom’s side and who is on his side in the city and so he does a very clever thing. He leaves Jerusalem confident that those who follow him are his loyal people, whereas those who stay behind are undoubtedly for Absalom.
Then Absalom undid himself. Instead of turning to God for direction in his moves, he turned to personal advisors. Now David had planted an advisor in the court who directed Absalom wrongly. When Absalom and the troops came after David they were defeated. Absalom was riding under an oak tree on his donkey, his long hair waving in the breeze. His hair caught in the tree, the donkey pulled out from under him and there he hung by his hair. He undoubtedly had a sword with him so that he could have cut off his hair and found freedom, but he was so much in love with his hair that he never thought of that. So he hung there until he was dead.
You all know the lesson we can learn. Don’t try to use a false sense of psychology and flattery to become a leader. That is not the way to put off limitations and gain true dominion. Make your demonstration through sincerity and truth.
You have heard of modern Absaloms who have memorized the names of thousands of individuals over the country for they have known that the highest form of flattery is to remember a man’s name. But such mortal mind methods do not bring any more real success today than yesterday.
There are even those who sometimes try to work their way into Readerships through psychological means, through flattery, entertainment and other methods of the human mind. Don’t do it. Trust the Eternal. Do good work where you are and let that good work speak for itself.
David did not rejoice over the death of Absalom. Instead he lamented: “Oh, my son Absalom, would God I had died for thee.”
When someone who has sought to harm you should have misfortune, never rejoice. Be big — love your neighbor as yourself. In no other way can you be a true leader.
There was now peace in all the land, and David was quite proud of his accomplishments. He wondered just how many people he did rule and how large an army he could get together. He therefore sent Joab forth to number the people. Finally he got the figure “1,300,000 valiant men that drew the sword.”
Immediately after taking the count David realized his error, for he was believing his power was in numbers of men rather than God. As a punishment a plague came upon the land and killed 70,000 people in three days.
David devoted all his spiritual energies, communion, and sacrifice, and the plague stopped suddenly.
We can learn a valuable lesson from this experience. Don’t measure your success by a material yardstick.
Until 1900 M. Eddy gave a yearly count of the members of The Mother Church. Then she awakened to see that the strength of her church did not depend upon the number of members but rather on the good that was being accomplished. At this point she put this section in the Manual of The Mother Church: “Christian Scientists shall not report for publication the number of members of The Mother Church nor that of the branch churches. According to the Scripture they shall turn away from personality and numbering the people.” Can you see how M. Eddy learned from studying the story of David?
Remember that the success of your church never depends on the number of members you have. The number of members is just an effect of the good you are doing.
Likewise, your success does not depend on the number of dollars you have in the bank; and so, don’t waste too much time counting them.
Your success as a practitioner does not depend on how many patients you treat daily, but on how many patients you get rid of each day through healing them.
Now there is another plot to put one of David’s sons on the throne. But while the great entertainment is going on, David is divinely directed to crown Solomon as king. David gave him sound instructions as to how he should lay off limitations and be a true leader:
“Be thou strong and shew thyself a man and keep the charge of the Lord thy God to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes and His commandments and His judgments and His testimonies as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou turnest thyself to do.”
Can we not learn from this that we must welcome young people into our activities whether in business or in church?
This is one lesson church organization has got to learn. So often no place has been made for youth. But, thank goodness, in recent years there have been signs of an awakening. The Christian Science Monitor Youth Forum was organized and is making progress. Many more churches are welcoming young people into church activities. A resolution was recently presented at a membership meeting in our church that our younger church members be placed on all committees. This had a very good effect on our Sunday School.
When you have the opportunity, read the little pamphlet “Youth Chooses.” The first article is one that I contributed: “The Contribution of Youth to the Cause of Christian Science.” In it I have emphasized that there is a great need for youth in the Cause of Christian Science. I believe you can use this pamphlet profitably in your contact with young people in and outside of Sunday School.
In ending the story of David’s life I asked myself “Which Psalm would David have used as the eternal message to our age?” I believe it would have been the 46th for it shows his realization of the triumph of good. May I read it:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea: Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth: he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I wi11 be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us.”
“Be still and know that I am God” — that is the way to put off limitations and be a true leader in all you do.
ASSOCIATION PAPER FOR 1950
Putting Off Limitations And Recognizing The Infinitude Of Being
This afternoon we are going to demonstrate Christian Science in regard to the unlimited nature of man. I am sure that this subject will be of interest to all of you because no one likes limitations. As we go over some of these facts of Being you will apply them to yourselves and see also how you can apply them to others in the experience of your patients. We are going to discuss the unlimited nature of man in regard to supply, happiness, health, the ability to heal, and peace.
Mr. W., are you one of the wealthiest men in the world?
That’s it! You must state your proposition first before you can prove it. Too often students are too vague about what they are seeking to prove. If you were attempting to prove the Pythagorean Theorem, you would have to state the proposition first that the sum of the squares of the two sides of a right triangle equals the square of the hypotenuse.
After you have stated your proposition you may proceed to prove it.
Be sure that you are daily proving for yourself and every patient that man is rich, for a great deal of sickness stems from the fear of lack and insecurity.
How many in this Association are very wealthy? May we have hands? Are there any poor people in this Association? Do any of you have any poor patients who are not able to express gratitude to you for good work done? Don’t you dare have poor patients any more than you would have sick, sinful, or dying patients! Man is whole, well, and wealthy always.
Often, I ask a patient whether he is wealthy. Nine out of ten answer in the negative. To tell you the truth, I believe some of them are afraid I’ll make my charge commensurate with their wealth. Of course, before I get through with them I explain what real wealth is. Just as we must claim health and happiness in order possess them, just so must we claim wealth.
Mrs. B., are you one of the wealthiest women in the world?
Mrs. S., do you think it would do any good just to go around saying “I’m rich, I’m rich”?
Well, that would be better than saying, “I’m poor,” but I do not believe it would bring about any outstanding results. You would not get very far in geometry by repeating the propositions over and over. You must prove the proposition by scientific reasoning. Our Leader says on page 397 of Science and Health: “Declare that you are not hurt and understand the reason why. . .” It is in knowing the reason why that we do our proving.
Mr. F., why are you so wealthy? Mrs. B., what makes you so wealthy?
Mrs. W., is it your husband’s salary that makes you rich?
Mrs. G., is it the income from your stocks and bonds and property that makes you wealthy?
Mr. H., is it a material inheritance that makes you rich?
Mr. A., is it a government handout that puts you in the upper bracket? Mrs. C., does your wealth come from your patients in Christian Science?
We must see that it is not matter or human circumstances but God, Spirit, that makes us wealthy. Please face this eternal fact; for we have all been tempted at times to believe that material things make us wealthy, and a lack of material things make us poor. Most of your patients will be thinking of wealth in terms of matter instead of Spirit until your treatment corrects their thought.
Mrs. K., can you see that material things do not make us wealthy? Mr. L., do you see that God, Spirit, alone makes us rich?
Mr. S., suppose you had a million dollars but no love in your heart; suppose you were a mean old Scrooge; would you be wealthy?
It is divine Love that makes you rich. If you love others enough you will find ways and means of being of service to them. They will be grateful for service and will reward you accordingly. But without love, selfishness will make you poor indeed. If you want to have a more abundant sense of Life, love all mankind more. Love makes you rich.
Mrs. D., suppose you had a million dollars but had no Truth or honesty, would you be wealthy? By no means. It would not be long before the law would catch up with you and you would find yourself behind bars. Then what good would your million do you? Dishonesty never made anyone wealthy. It makes people poor. Do you think gangsters and gamblers are rich? Never. Help your patients to see that strict honesty pays big dividends whereas even a little dishonesty makes for lack and limitation. On page 226 of Miscellaneous Writings our Leader has written: “When Aristotle was asked what a person could gain by uttering a falsehood he replied, ‘Not to be credited when he shall tell the truth.’”
When Jesus was tempted of the devil to believe that the end justifies the means, when he was tempted to bow down to Satan, dishonesty, in order to be given dominion over all the world, he was awake to see that dishonesty and evil do not give dominion but subjection, slavery, poverty.
Remember when you claim something for yourself or another that does not belong to you or to him, you are dishonest for you are stealing. Now you and your brother are children of God, and that only belongs to you and to him which comes from God. Then if you claim negative evil qualities for yourself or others, you are dishonest, and this makes for poverty. Watch that you do not mentally claim imperfections for members of your family, your employer, your employees, your competitors, your neighbors, your fellow church members. Claim all good qualities for yourself and others. This Truth makes you rich.
Mrs. C., suppose you had a million dollars but no intelligence; would you be wealthy? Obviously not. You would either lose all you had very quickly or else you would be placed in a hospital for the mentally sick, and then what good would your million do you? Jesus said, “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.” (Luke 8:18)
He who turns to divine Mind for guidance and inspiration will always be rich. He who trusts a negative mortal mind will find limitations. You remember our Leader’s statement on page 307 of Miscellaneous Writings: “God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies.” Divine Mind, the positive Mind, the perfect Mind, is full of productive and helpful ideas. This Mind is ever with you. It is your Mind. You are the complete and perfect reflection of it; and all of Its ideas are yours by reflection. It is Mind, divine intelligence, that makes you rich. Ignorance never earned a dollar.
We saw this morning how David turned to God for his answers, and how he was rewarded for so doing. On page 467 of the textbook our Leader writes: “Having no other gods, turning to no other but the one perfect Mind to guide him, man is the likeness of God, pure and eternal, having that Mind which was also in Christ.”
Mr. B., do you through prayer turn to the one divine Mind for every decision you are called upon to make? Or do you try to make decisions without prayer?
Divine Mind makes us eternally rich. Negative thoughts, wrong thinking, unhappy thoughts, bring on a dream state of thought that has the nightmare of a poor farm in it. Refuse to identify yourself with any consciousness except divine Mind and you will then be conscious of what real wealth is.
Mr. I., suppose you had a million dollars but no life — in other words, suppose you were dead, what good would your million do you?
The story is told of a miser who saved every penny he could get hold of until he was the richest man in the community. When he passed on he requested that they inscribe on his tombstone: “Here lies the richest man in the cemetery.” Was he any richer than the pauper buried a few yards away? His money was not his any longer. Undoubtedly, his heirs were quarreling about it.
It is divine Life that makes us rich. When I was a youngster I used to hope wishfully that some unknown wealthy relative might leave me a lot of money. I’m glad it never happened. The death of another never makes us wealthy. So let’s all stop dreaming. Sometimes I almost wish that there were no such things as material inheritances. I believe that everyone would be better off without them. Men and women would learn to depend upon God rather than the efforts of a past generation.
Help your patients along this line. Some people are made poor by a material inheritance. Sometimes patients advanced in years who have saved a few pennies, must meet the argument of the wrong thought of prospective heirs who feel that, they might benefit by the death of a patient. Handle this. Also help your patients who might be prospective heirs to see that Life, Truth, and Love (and not the death of someone) make them rich.
Also help your patients who have accumulated a few dollars to see that their money cannot make their children or others wealthy. Life alone brings wealth, means wealth. There is often a lot of subtle error along this line that needs handling. Do a thorough job of it for yourself and others.
Laziness never made anyone wealthy. Life, pep, enthusiasm, vim, vigor, and right ambition produce wealth. Apathy, indifference, inactivity, and laziness result in limitations. Life, divine Life, makes you rich.
Mrs. S., suppose you had a million dollars but no divine Principle, would you be rich?
You would not have it very long without law, order, and organization. What are your motives in business — to make money, to accumulate matter, or to render a service? Right motives make you rich. When you find yourself engaged in the Christian Science practice, what are your motives — to make money or to help people find God? If you are trying to make a few dollars you are poor indeed. If you are working to establish and maintain peace on earth and good will toward men, you are rich and your practice will grow.
Miss S., are you competing with others to see how much more matter you can accumulate, or are you competing with yourself to see how much more service you can render today than yesterday?
Divine Principle expressed in the highest, finest, and best motives makes you wealthy.
Mrs. P., suppose you had a million dollars but you had no Soul, would you be rich?
You remember what Jesus said on this subject: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt.16:26)
Is there any greater tragedy than to find an individual who has accumulated dollars, but does not have the ability to appreciate the beautiful, good and true round about?
Mrs. C., would you give up your ability to see good, hear good, and feel good for a million dollars?
What would you give in exchange for your Soul, God?
Enjoy life, enjoy people, enjoy your family, enjoy yourself, and enjoy the outdoors.
Mrs. Rieke and I get a real thrill out of the birds at our home. At first, we did not have many although we put up the biggest and best bird feeder. Then someone quoted Burroughs to us, “You have to have birds in your heart to find them in the bushes.” Now one day this past winter I counted twenty-four Cardinals in the yard at one time. We keep sunflower seed on our kitchen window sill and have built up a close companionship with a great variety of birds.
It is Soul that makes you rich, that makes you a better salesman, a better teacher, a better companion, a nobler man and woman. Cherish Soul and you will always be wealthy.
Mrs. G., are you infinitely rich? What makes you that way?
Mr. H., if you were materially minded, dishonest, unloving, stupid, half dead, worried, disorderly, would you be rich?
Mr. W., what makes you rich? Association, what makes you rich?
* * * * * * * * * * * * Mr. H., when does God make you rich?
That is the answer, now and forever. Sometimes individuals answer that God makes them rich when they reflect Him. But then you have to ask when that is. There is only one answer, now and forever.
Miss C., have you always been very wealthy? Mrs. S., will you always be rich?
Many individuals accept the lie that they were poor when they were children. Help your patients to awaken to the fact that they were always rich. See for yourself and your patients that you will always be rich because divine Love, Life, Truth, Soul, Spirit, Mind, and Principle make you that way eternally.
In the Readers’ Digest for December 1949 there was an article entitled, “The Heart That Did Not Break.” There we read in part: “Adeline De Walt Reynolds, now eighty-eight years old, has always known how to survive sorrow and keep her spirit whole. She became in 1940 a Hollywood star, at an age when many people whimper they never had a chance to do what they really wanted to do. Millions of fans call her Grandma Reynolds for she has appeared in nineteen pictures, including ‘Going My Way,’ ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’ and ‘The Corn is Green.’ But no camera has told the bracing story of this unbreakable woman who postponed her dreams for seventy years and then made them all come true.” Read the article and you will see what made her successful and rich at eighty-eight.
There will never be a moment when God with all His glory will not be with you to give you a true sense of substance. A practitioner well advanced in years thought she ought to retire. She did and she was most miserable. Then one of our lecturers told her she ought to go back into the practice. She did and has done better work than ever before in her life. She is prosperous and every need is supplied.
Mrs. C., when does God make man rich?
You must often handle financial anxiety about the future, fear of the poor farm, fear that one will be dependent on relatives.
That is the reason you never need to fear about the future. You will never retire from the business of reflecting God. Your form of activity and employment may change. But promise me you will never try to retire. Here are some dictionary definitions: “To withdraw from action, to retreat, to recede, to withdraw from circulation;” and listen to this one: “to go to bed.” No, we never want to withdraw from a sense of divine activity. Who are we to retreat? Do you like the thought of yourself as receding? Don’t ever withdraw from circulation. Your whole being depends upon a proper sense of spiritual reflection and circulation. Awaken elderly patients from the desire to retire and immediately you help to put them back into circulation. You will then find there is no lack of proper circulation.
The time will eventually come when all of you can spend more and more time in the practice of Christian Science, helping others and the world. Always look forward to that and prepare for that instead of retirement, and I can assure you that your health, vigor, and freedom will be preserved.
Guard also against the suggestion “I’ll be rich when this takes place or that,”
— you know, dreaming about the time when your ship comes in. It makes no difference whether you are in school, just starting in business, married or unmarried. God, divine Love, perpetually makes you very wealthy.
Mr. G., what would seem to take away from us our sense of wealth and abundance?
There is only one answer — Nothing.
But, Mr. R., do not taxes take some of your wealth? Don’t you believe it. The taxes of Caesar did not make Jesus poor, and the taxes of 1950 cannot interfere with our sense of abundant living. I do not mean that we should not encourage economy in government; but I do mean that we should not make ourselves miserable and poor by resenting the taxes we have to pay. Our taxes are an opportunity to express gratitude for being an American. Love to express such gratitude and you will find yourself very rich.
Mrs. P., could not a business depression make us poor and take away our wealth? Why not?
Mr. M., if God is perpetually making you rich, what can make you poor?
That is the way to do it; shut the door on the belief that anything can separate us from God, infinite good. Too often Scientists make beautiful statements of Truth and then reverse the Truth by saying, what can possibly change it.
Mrs. P., can’t mortal mind take your wealth away from you? Mrs. B., can’t wrong thinking make you poor?
Mrs. S., can’t errors or mistakes play havoc with your income? Mr. L., doesn’t your wife and family keep you stripped?
Remember that nothing can reverse the truth that God is eternally making you wealthy.
Paul put it this way: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” the abundance of good? the riches of God? “Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? — For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God. . .” the abundance of good, the wealth of Life, Truth, and Love.
Mrs. H., can’t your husband separate you from unlimited supply? Mrs. H., can’t your boss hold you back financially?
Mrs. S., can’t your age interfere with your sense of income? Mrs. W., what makes man poor?
Association, what can take away your wealth?
Have we not had a wonderful demonstration of wealth and supply this afternoon? I know that you will accept this way of thinking for yourself and others. This correct, honest way of thinking is prayer and brings all of us freedom.
Remember these four important steps:
State your proposition. I am rich.
Know the reason why. It is because of God.
When? Now and forever.
What can reverse it? Nothing
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Here I would like to say something about borrowing. When you are tempted with a suggestion of sickness you do not run to a doctor to have him do something to your body. Instead, you turn to the one divine Mind for spiritual inspiration, and through this inspiration you find health. You may even call a Christian Science Practitioner; but you do not employ material means to bring you health.
Now it is somewhat the same with supply. If you find yourself with a limited sense of things, you may be tempted to go to a financial doctor called a bank or loan company. You will ask them to give your bank account a shot in the arm with a loan. And you may through belief get temporary relief. But if, in time of need, we will learn to turn more wholeheartedly to divine Love, we will receive divine ideas that will obviate the necessity to borrow. Remember no nation ever borrowed itself into prosperity; neither did any individual.
When the original Mother Church and the Extension were built, M. Eddy insisted that the supply would be equal to the demand so that it was not necessary to borrow or have a mortgage on the church.
What you have is the result of the good you have reflected, the service you have rendered. When you borrow you are virtually saying, “I have not reflected enough good as yet to be able to possess this desired object, but I hereby promise to reflect good in such a manner tomorrow and next year, that I may enjoy this necessity or luxury today.” What I would like to have you see is this: that you can reflect infinite good today, this minute, in such a manner that you do not have to borrow on your good deeds of tomorrow.
A short time ago I read this bit from the Readers’ Digest:
“Competition from easy credit and installment plan stores had brought old Bert Blodgett’s cash and carry store to the point where everyone expected him to close up any day. So when after an absence I found Bert again doing a good steady business. I was surprised. ‘It’s my buying plan,’ he explained laconically, pointing to a large sign which hung facing the customer on the back of the cash register. It read:
USE BERT’S BUYING PLAN
The whole price down and Think of it,
Nothing a week for the rest of your life!
‘Lots of people round here,’ said Bert, ‘came to find my buying plan easier than them others.’”
About the time I went into the practice of Christian Science I saw the unhappy results of debts in the experience of people, and I resolved that I was not going to borrow. I wouldn’t even have a charge account at a store for it would have meant borrowing on thirty days credit. I accepted Bert’s Plan. When I needed a car it was a temptation to borrow and buy it on time, but I resisted and resolved to express better service. A short time later one whom I had helped was so grateful, he gave me a used car he was not using. If I had bought a car on time, this one would not have been given to me.
That experience taught me always to turn to God in prayer rather than to a financial doctor.
Two years ago when we built our home, we thought we had counted all the costs, but were a little shy. It looked as though we were going to have to borrow. We prayed earnestly for the right answer. Several days later a gentleman came to us and said he knew houses always cost more than planned — furnishings, etc. He told us he had several thousand dollars in the bank that were not drawing interest and that we could use them for a few months if we liked. He didn’t want any interest and did not even want us to give him a note or mortgage. But it was a loan or very close to the border. I suppose I needed to learn a little humility on the subject of borrowing. We used a few of his dollars for three or four months so that all the bills could be paid. But I still think Bert Blodgett’s Plan is the best, and I’m sure if we had risen a little higher even this would not have been necessary.
Give God a real chance along these lines; reflect service as you have never reflected it before and you will find present supply to meet present needs, rather than future supply to meet present needs.
I know you will realize that in no way do I mean to be critical of banks, loan companies, or of those who direct such activities. We are not critical of doctors who are doing all they can to alleviate physical suffering. Neither would we recommend the elimination of all doctors immediately. There would be thousands who would die of fright if they thought they could not call a good doctor. But we in Science have found a better way to health. Neither would we eliminate bank loans and credit. Our whole economic system would collapse without bank loans at the present time. But, I think Christian Science teaches the ideal way out of lack is through more and better service rather than through loans: and we should all have this ideal before our thought even though temporarily we think we might have to employ a loan expedient.
Here is the promise from the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy: “The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.”
Appreciate the fact that God is constantly pouring out his bountiful treasure unto you. He is constantly making you one of the richest individuals in the world. And rich people do not have to borrow. Rather they are looking for ways to help others find security and abundance.
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Let us now consider another very important point. You know in interpreting the line from The Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread,” our Leader has written: “Give us grace for today.” She appears to have summarized all our needs into this one word “grace.” I would like to have you study our Leader’s use of that word in her writings when you get home. How we all need more grace, more graciousness, more gracefulness, more poise, more of a sense of ease, freedom. How we need to relax and be ourselves. Tension must go. Rigidity, anxiety, self- consciousness, fear and worry are no part of God’s man. “Give us grace for today.”
Mr. B., are you one of the most relaxed individuals in the world?
Don’t say “I should be.” There is no God in “I should be.” Nowhere in the Bible do we read that God is the great “I should be,” and “I ought to be” or “I wish I were,” or “I’ll try to be,” or “I hope to be,” or even “I shall be.” We read that God is the great “I Am.”
When you declare “I am relaxed” God is right there in the midst of you. When you say “I should be” you are talking like a Methodist.
Mrs. S., are you one of the most gracious individuals in the world? Mrs. M., are you always at ease?
Mr. C., are you graceful?
Mrs. H., are you completely relaxed this afternoon?
Is this Association completely relaxed, released, and free?
Mrs. G., what causes us to be relaxed? Will a cigarette do the job? or a highball? or a sleeping powder? It is Spirit and not matter that brings relaxation. Relax in the divine Spirit.
Such an attitude brings about quick healings.
Mrs. L., will hatred bring about relaxation? Suppose you just detest someone; does that cause you to relax? No! It ties you up in knots. Try it sometime and see what a mistake it is. Or maybe you already have. It is love that brings that mellowness, that gracious feeling, that true relaxation. Realize with me for a minute that you love everyone for everyone is lovable and you are loving. See what it does for you. It softens you, even the lines of your face.
Mrs. G., suppose you had done something dishonest. Would this bring you true relaxation? Rather you would probably tighten up every time you passed a policeman. If you tell falsehoods you will find yourself getting tense.
Anxiety and fear bring on tension but perfect Love casts out fear and gives us grace for today. You can take each of the seven synonyms and realize how each of these divine qualities causes you to relax.
Mr. H., when does God cause you to be one of the most relaxed men in the world?
Miss L., are you relaxed the first thing in the morning? After a hard day at the office?
Mrs. F., are you relaxed during a golf game?
Mrs. C., are you relaxed, at ease and graceful when you meet people? Mrs. M., are you at ease when you give a testimony?
When are we relaxed?
Mr. B., what takes your relaxation away from you? Mrs. L., what seems to tie you up in knots?
Mrs. P., what makes you tense?
Mr. R., doesn’t mortal mind make you tense?
Mrs. E., doesn’t error tie you up in knots sometimes?
What takes our relaxation away from us? What takes our grace away?
We have now proved another important proposition. Demonstrate this every day for yourself and others that man is forever at ease because God makes him that way and there is nothing that can take his divine ease and grace away from him.
Mrs. O., are you quite healthy? Are you in fact one of the healthiest individuals in the world?
Mrs. S., what makes you so healthy?
Mrs. S., does material medicine make man healthy? How about climate?
Psychiatry?
If you want to give a good Christian Science treatment, take each synonym and realize that each of these qualities produce health in man.
Mr. F., do you love everyone? It is love that produces health.
Mrs. E., are all of your patients full of Love? The realization of this fact will assure you of a healing.
Mrs. W., are you truthful and honest in claiming only good for yourself and others? It is Truth that makes us free, that produces health. Error never healed anything.
Mrs. W., are you constantly identifying yourself and your patients with divine Mind, or do you see yourself and others indulging in erroneous thoughts? It is divine Mind that causes us to be healthy.
Mrs. M., do you work everything out from the basis of divine Principle? That is the way to do it. Principle always heals.
Mr. C., when does God cause you to be one of the healthiest specimens in the world? Were you always healthy? Will you be healthy fifty years from now?
Mrs. B., what interferes with our health?
Doesn’t sin, fear, and ignorance take our health away Mrs. V.? Well what makes man sick then Mrs. W.?
Can’t false theology interfere with our health and harmony? Mr. W., how about malpractice? Can’t that make a man sick? Mr. L., what makes people sick?
I’m glad you are learning to use that word “nothing” with vigor.
You remember that Jesus once said: “Nothing shall by any means hurt you.” You are also familiar with many statements of our Leader that nothing can reverse the Truth. On page three of Pulpit and Press she writes: “Know, then, that you possess sovereign power to think and act rightly, and that nothing can dispossess you of this heritage and trespass on Love. If you maintain this position, who or what can cause you to sin or suffer?”
Or consider this one from Science and Health: “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.” (S&H 393:12)
I hope you are seeing how logical Christian Science demonstrations are. They are just like demonstrations in arithmetic. Take the simplest one that two plus two is four. A child might ask you, “Why, Daddy?”
How would you answer his question, Mr. K.? Why is two plus two four?
It is Principle and Truth that makes it that way. You must have the same simple approach to demonstrations in Christian Science. Why is man well, perfect, whole, rich? That is the truth about him, the way Principle causes him to be.
Your little friend might ask you what two plus two will be tomorrow, and you would have to help him see that the answer is always the same.
He might then ask you whether there was not something that could change it
— the Democrats, the Republicans, or surely the Communists. And you would assure him that nothing could change these facts. As you help him to see this, he will never be troubled by an error in regard to two plus two.
You will help your patients by the same scientific reasoning, either audibly or silently, to see that God causes them to be healthy, happy, free, rich, perfect all the time, and that nothing can reverse this.
Let us here run through several simple propositions.
Miss F., are you one of the strongest creatures in the universe? Prove it. Mr. M., are you always divinely inspired? Prove it.
Mr. W., are you one of the most successful individuals in the universe? Prove it.
Now I know you will not think of this way of reasoning as a formula. If it is just words you will not help or be helped. But if your treatment is full of divine ideas you will succeed; But every treatment should state the proposition, know the reason why, establish it forever, and know that nothing can reverse it.
Let us here consider the proposition of happiness for it is the goal of every treatment.
Mrs. B., are you infinitely happy? What makes you that way?
Mrs. S., if you hated people would you be happy? You can see that Love makes us happy.
Mrs. K., if you were indulging in dishonest thoughts would you be happy?
M. ?, if you were unfaithful to your wife and family, would you be happy?
We can all see that happiness comes from Truth.
Mrs. K., would a cigarette or a highball make you happy? It is Soul that brings permanent joy and happiness.
Mr. B., does your happiness depend upon the material things you possess?
Very often when I ask people what makes them happy, they will begin to enumerate some of their material possessions. We must help our patients to see that happiness is not to be found in matter but in the Spirit of Christ entertained. Our possessions are just the added things. They are not the cause of happiness, but the effect of it, the effect of seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. If you seek material things to find happiness you are as the heathen.
Mrs. A., is it Principle or person that makes you happy?
Here is a shoal upon which some Scientists have wrecked their ship of happiness.
Mrs. Eddy discerned the importance of building happiness upon Principle rather than personal sense or personal relationships. On page nine of Miscellaneous Writings our Leader wrote:
“Whom we call friends seem to sweeten life’s cup and to fill it with the nectar of the gods. We lift this cup to our lips; but it slips from our grasp, to fall in fragments before our eyes. Perchance, having tasted its tempting wine, we become intoxicated; become lethargic, dreamy objects of self-satisfaction; else, the contents of this cup of selfish human enjoyment having lost, its flavor, we voluntarily set it aside as tasteless and unworthy of human aims.
“And wherefore our failure longer to relish this fleeting sense, with its delicious forms of friendship, wherewith mortals become educated to gratification in personal pleasure and trained in treacherous peace? Because it is the great and only danger in the path that winds upward. A false sense of what constitutes happiness is more disastrous to human progress than all that an enemy or enmity can obtrude upon the mind or engraft upon its purposes and achievements wherewith to obstruct life’s joys and enhance its sorrows.”
I should also like to read from page 266 of our textbook:
“Would existence without personal friends be to you a blank? Then the time will come when you will be solitary, left without sympathy; but this seeming vacuum is already filled with divine Love. When this hour of development comes, even if you cling to a sense of personal joys, spiritual Love will force you to accept what best promotes your growth. Friends will betray and enemies will slander, until the lesson is sufficient to exalt you; for ‘man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.’” The author has experienced the foregoing prophecy and its blessings. Thus, He teaches mortals to lay down their fleshliness and gain spirituality. This is done through self- abnegation. Universal Love is the divine way in Christian Science.”
Now our Leader does not suggest that we should be without friends but without “personal friends” — that false sense of friends which would insist that happiness is built upon a personal sense of things.
Sometimes individuals ask me: “But, Mr. Rieke, doesn’t Mrs. Rieke make you happy?” and I reply, “No, she doesn’t,” “and don’t you make her happy?” I reply that I do not. They are, quite shocked. Then I explain that God makes me happy and God makes us happy together, but my happiness is not built upon a personal sense of her, and her happiness is not built upon a personal sense of me. Our happiness is built on God, divine Principle. And I assure you that such thinking does not take any of the joy out of living, but, rather, enhances it and removes the headaches and fear of losing happiness.
Mrs. C., when are you radiantly happy? Mrs. S., do you ever get depressed?
Mrs. C., are you happy the first thing in the morning before you have your cup of Sanka?
Treat every patient on the subject of happiness; and treat yourself for joy every day. A doctor on a radio program a short time ago said: “If people never got grouchy or allowed themselves to be unhappy, they could live at least for two hundred years.”
There is the secret of eternal Life. Use it.
Mr. H., what takes the joy out of your experience? Mrs. M., what robs you of your happiness?
Mrs. I., don’t people sometimes upset you?
Miss H., how about your boss? Isn’t he a joy-killer sometimes? Mrs. B., what subtracts from your happiness?
Mrs. A., if God is eternally making you happy, what can make you unhappy?
Do some of these questions and answers sound juvenile? Well, let me tell you they are the most important points to understand in Christian Science.
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Every unlovely, limiting, and imperfect thing said about you or your patient is a lie, a false accusation. Your work is to silence the lie by proving the accusation false.
Suppose, for instance, that you were accused falsely of dishonesty, and I was hired as your lawyer to defend you in court.
What is the first thing the Judge would ask you, Mr. S.?
That is it, guilty or not guilty. If you plead guilty there is nothing that any of us can do for you. You don’t even need a lawyer if you are going to plead guilty. If you plead guilty you are in for punishment, even though you are innocent of the crime. It is my work as your lawyer to help you see the importance of pleading “not guilty.”
It is your job as a Christian Science practitioner to help your patient, to see the importance of pleading “not guilty” to the false charges of sickness, sin, fear, worry, unhappiness, and poverty.
All other religions except Christian Science instruct people to plead guilty to false charges. “Yea, Lord, Judge, I’m as guilty as all sin, have mercy on me.” They throw themselves on the mercy of the court. That is why punishments continue and healings do not take place.
In Christian Science practice your patient is always innocent of the false accusation. Your job is to prove his innocency and protect his rights in court and not to ask the great Judge to have mercy on him. That is old theology. In this connection, study carefully the trial at the conclusion of the chapter on “Christian Science Practice” and you will see the importance of protesting the innocency of the patient.
Now in any court, it is not enough to plead “not guilty” and stop there. You must prove your proposition or disprove the false charge made against your client. Your proposition is that your client is an honest man. But it is not an adequate defense to repeat words: “He is honest, he is honest.” You must prove it with witnesses and testimony.
Now suppose you have done a good piece of work proving that your client is honest and the judge should ask your client: “When are you honest?” What must be the answer? Suppose he says, “Ninety-nine percent of the time.” Would this be a good defense? Why, this would open the way for a conviction, because possibly during this one second of time he committed this crime. His only defense is, “I was, am, and always will be honest — now and forever.”
Then suppose the prosecutor subtly says: “Well, that’s fine — ,” and then suddenly: “But what takes your integrity away from you?”
What must your client answer, Mr. M.? If he goes on and asks: “What tempts you to steal?” What is the only answer? If your client gives any other answer than “nothing,” he is incriminating himself and will be found guilty.”
Mr. W., you are an imperfect mortal.
Mrs. C., you are a dissatisfied, discontented creature.
Miss S., are you peaceful, full of peace? What causes you to be peaceful?
When? What interferes with your peace?
Mr. W., do you have any emotional conflicts? Miss.?, do you have any intellectual wrestlings?
Many of your patients are charged with emotional conflicts within, relational conflicts without, in the family, in business, in the neighborhood. Prove regularly that man is full of peace.
Mr. A., what makes the world so peaceful?
I would encourage you to take time each day to consider that proposition. Take each synonym and realize that each of these qualities is working in universal consciousness producing world peace.
Mrs. G., can matter, H-bombs, flattops, jet planes, bring about world peace?
No! It is Spirit that produces peace.
Will hatred produce world peace? No, it is only divine universal Love that will bring us peace.
Truth and honesty among individuals and nations produce world peace.
Divine Principle is forever at work. God has never surrendered His power of government. He is at work governing all He is the one and only motivating force.
War is very stupid. No one ever wins. It is intelligence, divine Mind, that eliminates wars and brings the reign of peace.
Mrs. R., when does God “make wars to cease?”
Now and forever is the only answer. Let us rejoice in that fact regularly. Mrs. S., what is it that interferes with world peace? I know, nothing in reality,
but what seems to?
That is it. Stick to your proposition. Since God is making the world peaceful, there is nothing that can reverse His plan or even seem to reverse His plan. The Bible says: “He maketh wars to cease.” Since this is so, what can stay His hand or say unto Him, what doest Thou? His will is supreme and therefore the only will there is. And it is His will that there be peace on earth and good will toward men.
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Here I would like to talk to you about a little word with a very big meaning. It is a word I would like to have you do some research on when you return home, for it is the key to the understanding of our subject. The word is “infinite.” It does have a big meaning, doesn’t it? The dictionary defines it as follows: “So great as to be immeasurable and unbounded, limitless, inexhaustible, all-embracing, perfect.” It comes from the Latin “not” plus “limit.” Won’t you enjoy research on the subject? And it is necessary because many Scientists carry over some of false theology’s limiting concepts.
Did you ever hear a testifier express gratitude for his limited understanding of Christian Science? He is talking more like a Presbyterian than a Christian Scientist.
Hear what M. Eddy says: “Man reflects infinity, and this reflection is the true idea of God. God expresses in man the infinite idea forever developing itself, broadening and rising higher and higher from a boundless basis.” (S&H 258:11-15)
Miss S., did you ever find yourself thinking or saying that you were grateful for the little you know about Truth?
Hear this statement from our Leader: “Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am Infinity.” (S&H 252:32-2)
Mrs. J., how much understanding of God do you reflect?
Have any of you been guilty of saying, “I am grateful for the limited good that has come my way?” Good is never limited, it is always infinite.
Mrs. ?, is God infinite or unlimited? Are you His likeness? Are you therefore unlimited? Are you the reflection of Infinity?
Mr. C., what causes you to be unlimited?
M. ?, what robs you of that unlimited, unrestricted sense of man?
Mrs. D., what limits you?
Have you ever heard people say: “I know my limitations.” Don’t you dare know limitations; know God; know infinity. It was Paul who said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” Do you see how he was declaring for Infinity?
Man is not God, but he has not a single quality underived from Deity. He has not a single limiting or limited sense of things.
When you give a treatment for yourself or others, don’t declare for just a little more health or supply. Open the windows of heaven that Soul might pour forth Its infinite blessings.
A member of this Association was beginning her practice of Christian Science. She had opportunities to help a few individuals. One day she saw the importance of broadening her vision to see that she was not a limited practitioner in a limited place with a limited opportunity for service, but she was the “royal reflection of the Infinite.” She opened the windows of heaven, and I want to tell you what happened:
(Relate the healing in Bavaria) [This healing was not included in the Address.
ed.]
Isn’t that wonderful!
Wouldn’t we all like to have experiences like that regularly. We can, but to have them we must pray the prayer of demonstration in regard to our unlimited capacity to heal the sick.
Mrs. T., do you have unlimited ability to practice Christian Science and witness instantaneous healings?
Mrs. B., are you one of the finest Christian Science practitioners in the world? Mr. G., do you have unlimited ability to heal through Christian Science?
We are going to prove these propositions this afternoon. Mrs. R., what gives you the ability to heal?
Yes, it is Love. M. Eddy says: “— the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love.” You know how she also says if we reach our patient through divine Love, the healing will be accomplished at one visit.
Mrs. S., do you love everyone? Is it this love that enables you, yea, causes you to heal?
You remember time and time again the Bible states that Jesus had compassion on the multitude and following that compassion came the healings.
Mr. H., are you blessing people all the time because you love them so much?
It is this love full of divine blessings that heals.
Don’t ever think it is you that heals; it is the divine Love that you reflect. Don’t love those that first love you; love all humanity. Jesus had compassion on the multitude. Loosen up with your divine affections. Love more and you will heal with very little effort. Remember also that it is not a personal sense of love which likes and dislikes that heals, but universal, unselfish divine Love.
Mr. ?, what besides Love causes you to heal?
That is it — Truth. We know the truth about God, the universe and man. You know the truth about the non-existence of all evil. It is not you, it is the truth that does the healing. Jesus said that we should know the truth, but it is the Truth itself that makes us free.
One of the simple truths that we must know is that we have unlimited ability to heal the sick. Don’t pray and wait for the kingdom of heaven to come into the experience of man. Prove — demonstrate with scientific certainty that this kingdom of infinite harmony is at hand and within the experience of all.
It is divine Life that enables you to heal. Some years ago I had a sleepless night. The next afternoon while giving a silent treatment in the presence of a patient, I fell asleep for a few seconds or minutes, I’m not certain which it was. But, you know, I don’t believe my treatment made a very good impression on my patient. You will never be able to sleep a patient into health, although there are times when you would like to.
It is Life that empowers us to heal, and one’s patients have a right to find us very much alive, very enthusiastic about Christian Science, with a keen relish for all that is beautiful, good, and true.
Mr. ?, are you really alive? Is it this divine Life as expressed by you that,
heals?
May I say here that it is well for you to take time enough to keep yourself refreshed and awake. Take a day or a week off from time to time. You have no more right to be in your office with a wearied, tired, burdened sense of things than you have to be there with an un-loving or dishonest state of thought.
It is Life, Truth, and Love that heals. See to it that they are in evidence or shut up shop until they are in evidence. Your patients will thank you, and you will do better work in the long-run.
This is one of the reasons why our Movement needs young men and women in the Christian Science practice. I don’t mean young in years, but young in enthusiasm, young in ideas, young in life, vivacious, active, radiant, full of smiles, with a gusto for Life.
Mrs. M., what causes you to be a top-notch practitioner?
Will a new swanky office make you a success in the practice?
No! How about some classy calling cards and stationery? How about getting your name in the Christian Science Journal and telephone directory? Will that make you a successful practitioner? Well, if you should get yourself elected as Reader of your church, that ought to do the trick, don’t you think?
No, it is nothing human or material that makes you a good practitioner. It is Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, which enables you to heal. Jesus said that it is the Spirit that quickeneth, material things are of no profit.
Build a better mouse trap and the public will beat a path to your door. Let God, divine Life, Truth, Love, and Spirit shine through you, and you will never want for the opportunity to help others. You can begin in your own living room, your beauty parlor, your bank, your store, your school. With the Spirit of Christ you are certain to succeed in the practice of Christian Science.
Mr. I., would a back-log of $50,000 help you to succeed in the practice of Christian Science?
Mrs. P., do you think Soul has anything to do with your ability to heal?
Your ability to heal does not depend upon a material body. It does not make any difference whether you are six feet tall or only four feet eight inches, whether you have wrinkles or the smooth skin of a baby, whether your hair is brown or gray or temporarily absent, whether you have one limb or two. And, of course, your healing ability is not measured on the non-existent scales in your bathroom; neither is it determined by your ability to win a Hollywood Beauty Contest. You don’t heal with the body but with and through Soul.
If you depend on material sense testimony to find out how your patients are progressing, you cannot heal. But if you turn to Soul to find out the truth about every situation, you are certain of success. On page 395 of our textbook our Leader says to leave “Soul to master the false evidences of the corporeal senses and to assert its claims over mortality and disease.”
Our Leader says (Rud. 8:13): “Heal through Truth and Love; there is no other healer.” Divine Mind is always with you giving you the exact right ideas that are needed for every treatment. It is not matter or mortal mind that heals but pure, positive Mind. Turn to this one divine Intelligence for inspiration and wonderful thoughts will flow like a river through your consciousness.
Divine Mind is perpetually bearing witness to the truth about you and your patients. You are both listening to and hearing this truth that makes you free.
Lastly, it is divine Principle that enables you to heal. You haven’t any choice in the matter. Principle pulls all the strings. The divine law is in operation in you and all. It knows no boundaries of time or space. You do not just happen to be a Christian Science practitioner. Principle makes you one. You do not choose to be a practitioner; Principle chooses you, calls you, and causes you to manifest divine power, presence, and knowledge.
On page XI of Science and Health M. Eddy says: “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.” It is Principle that changes chaos into order, and you are a child of Principle doing its bidding. You are a man under authority, a scribe under orders. You have no choice but to heal.
On page 22 of Pulpit and Press our Leader has prophesied: “If the lives of Christian Scientists attest their fidelity to Truth, I predict that, in the twentieth century every Christian church in our land, and a few in far-off lands, will approximate the understanding of Christian Science sufficiently to heal the sick in his name. Christ will give to Christianity his new name, and Christendom will be classified as Christian Scientists.”
We have just crossed the half-way mark of that century. To fulfill that prediction our Cause needs many thousand faithful Christian Science Practitioners. And I am sure that divine Principle will use us to fulfill that prediction. You are going to live to see that prophecy come true. You are destined to be faithful practitioners. You might just as well get used to the idea and enjoy it. It is divine Principle that is making all of us healthy, happy, successful practitioners of Scientific Christianity.
Mr. ?, when does God, Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Mind make us excellent practitioners?
Mrs. ?, when does God enable us heal the sick?
Mr. ?, when does God cause us to fulfill prophecy?
Miss B., what interferes with your ability to heal the sick? Mr. S., what takes away your inspiration?
Mrs. A., doesn’t false theology interfere with your ability to heal? Mrs. P., don’t your family ties hold you back?
Mr. F., what prevents you from being an active, successful practitioner? Mrs. J., doesn’t animal magnetism interfere with your ability to heal?
Association, what prevents God from perpetually making you some of the finest practitioners the world has ever known?
* * * * * * * * * * * *
“Divine Presence, breathe Thou Thy blessing on every heart in this house. Speak out, O soul! This is the newborn of Spirit, this is His redeemed; this, His beloved. May the kingdom of God within you, — within you alway, — reascending, bear you outward, upward, heavenward.”
May you know no limits in health, holiness, happiness, supply, or ability to heal. May you ever develop, broaden, and “rise higher and higher from a boundless basis,” children of Infinity!
