Suffering from Others’ Thoughts

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1      JESUS accepted the one fact whereby alone the rule of
         Life can be demonstrated, — namely, that there is
3      no death.

         In his real self he bore no infirmities. Though "a man
         of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," as Isaiah says of
6      him, he bore not his sins, but ours, "in his own body on
         the tree." "He was bruised for our iniquities; . . . and
         with his stripes we are healed."

9      He was the Way-shower; and Christian Scientists who
         would demonstrate "the way" must keep close to his
         path, that they may win the prize. "The way," in the
12    flesh, is the suffering which leads out of the flesh. "The
         way," in Spirit, is "the way" of Life, Truth, and Love,
         redeeming us from the false sense of the flesh and the
15    wounds it bears. This threefold Messiah reveals the self-
         destroying ways of error and the life-giving way of Truth.

         Job’s faith and hope gained him the assurance that
19    the so-called sufferings of the flesh are unreal. We shall
         learn how false are the pleasures and pains of material
         sense, and behold the truth of being, as expressed in his
21    conviction, "Yet in my flesh shall I see God;" that is,
         Now and here shall I behold God, divine Love.

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1      The chaos of mortal mind is made the stepping-stone
         to the cosmos of immortal Mind.

3      If Jesus suffered, as the Scriptures declare, it must have
         been from the mentality of others; since all suffering
         comes from mind, not from matter, and there could be
6      no sin or suffering in the Mind which is God. Not his
         own sins, but the sins of the world, "crucified the Lord
         of glory," and "put him to an open shame."

9      Holding a quickened sense of false environment, and
         suffering from mentality in opposition to Truth, are signifi-
         cant of that state of mind which the actual understanding
12    of Christian Science first eliminates and then destroys.

         In the divine order of Science every follower of Christ
         shares his cup of sorrows. He also suffereth in the flesh,
15    and from the mentality which opposes the law of Spirit;
         but the divine law is supreme, for it freeth him from the
         law of sin and death.

18    Prophets and apostles suffered from the thoughts of
         others. Their conscious being was not fully exempt from
         physicality and the sense of sin.

21    Until he awakes from his delusion, he suffers least from
         sin who is a hardened sinner. The hypocrite’s affections
         must first be made to fret in their chains; and the pangs
24    of hell must lay hold of him ere he can change from flesh
         to Spirit, become acquainted with that Love which is
         without dissimulation and endureth all things. Such
27    mental conditions as ingratitude, lust, malice, hate, con-
         stitute the miasma of earth. More obnoxious than

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1      Chinese stenchpots are these dispositions which offend
         the spiritual sense.

3      Anatomically considered, the design of the material
         senses is to warn mortals of the approach of danger by
         the pain they feel and occasion; but as this sense disap-
6      pears it foresees the impending doom and foretells the
         pain. Man’s refuge is in spirituality, "under the shadow
         of the Almighty."

9      The cross is the central emblem of human history.
         Without it there is neither temptation nor glory. When
         Jesus turned and said, "Who hath touched me?" he
12    must have felt the influence of the woman’s thought; for
         it is written that he felt that "virtue had gone out of him."
         His pure consciousness was discriminating, and rendered
15    this infallible verdict; but he neither held her error by
         affinity nor by infirmity, for it was detected and dismissed.

         This gospel of suffering brought life and bliss. This
18    is earth’s Bethel in stone, — its pillow, supporting the
         ladder which reaches heaven.

         Suffering was the confirmation of Paul’s faith. Through
21    "a thorn in the flesh" he learned that spiritual grace was
         sufficient for him.

         Peter rejoiced that he was found worthy to suffer for
24    Christ; because to suffer with him is to reign with him.
         Sorrow is the harbinger of joy. Mortal throes of anguish
         forward the birth of immortal being; but divine Science
27    wipes away all tears.

         The only conscious existence in the flesh is error of some

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1      sort, — sin, pain, death, — a false sense of life and happi-
         ness. Mortals, if at ease in so-called existence, are in their
3      native element of error, and must become dis-eased, dis-
         quieted, before error is annihilated.

         Jesus walked with bleeding feet the thorny earth-road,
6      treading "the winepress alone." His persecutors said
         mockingly, "Save thyself, and come down from the cross."
         This was the very thing he was doing, coming down from
9      the cross, saving himself after the manner that he had
         taught, by the law of Spirit’s supremacy; and this was
         done through what is humanly called agony.

12    Even the ice-bound hypocrite melts in fervent heat,
         before he apprehends Christ as "the way." The Master’s
         sublime triumph over all mortal mentality was immortal-
15    ity’s goal. He was too wise not to be willing to test the
         full compass of human woe, being "in all points tempted
         like as we are, yet without sin."

18    Thus the absolute unreality of sin, sickness, and death
         was revealed, — a revelation that beams on mortal sense
         as the midnight sun shines over the Polar Sea.