Chapter II - Imposition and Demonstration
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scorning Rabbi, the rival Pharisee, Gethsemane and the
scorning Rabbi, the rival Pharisee, Gethsemane and the
cross were ready to devour him.
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Over eighteen centuries ago the mere religionist was
Over eighteen centuries ago the mere religionist was
willing to hail Christ, Truth, with pomp and sceptre,
but it came not thus, and though the modern scourge
is a scoff, instead of the lash, the doors of some
churches are quite as effectually closed against Christ
to-day as then. Truth bids man watch, but is there
guard or control held over personal sense by mere re-
ligionists? The Christianity of Jesus was the science
of being; it destroyed Sickness, sin, and death, denied
personal sense, bore the cross, and reached the right
hand of God, even the perfect Principle of man. Our
Master, meekly, and yet as a victor bore the mockery
of his self-conscious God-being. "He maketh himself
as God," was the foundation of all accusations against
him; and the indignities he met, his followers must now
meet, until this Truth is understood. He overcame the
world, temptations and sins, proving their nothingness.
He wrought through the science of being, the example
of salvation from sin, sickness, and death, and estab-
lished the proof that he was Christ, and that Christ is
God, the Soul and Life of man.
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Every good word and work of our Master evoked
Every good word and work of our Master evoked
but denial, ingratitude, and persecution, from sensual-
ism and malice. Of the ten lepers he healed, but one
returned to give God thanks, that is, to acknowledge
the Principle that healed him, therefore, but one inter-
preted his healing aright; and yet he wrought on for his
enemies. He felt their sicknesses, but more he felt
their sins. Despised and rejected of men, yet returning
blessing for cursing, his spirituality must destroy their
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materiality, and through his stripes must they be healed;
materiality, and through his stripes must they be healed;
because error had felt the blow Truth gave it, the
scourge and cross awaited Jesus. The man of sorrows
was not in danger from salaries or popularity; deserv-
ing the homage of a world, and sharing pre-eminently
the approval of Soul, brief was his triumphant entry
into Jerusalem, and followed by the desertion of all
save a few mourners at the cross. This is what it means
to be spiritual in an age of materiality. The impossi-
bility for worldly favor to attend Christianity is seen in
its great moral distance from it. When personal sense
approves, Soul condemns, and where man praises, God
receives no thanks. One of the evidences of material-
ism and error is when the belief of Life in matter is
full of worldly prosperity.
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History informs us that Jesus, feeling the gross mate-
History informs us that Jesus, feeling the gross mate-
rialism that surrounded him, at times experienced a
momentary weakness, and turning, asked "Who hath
touched me?" The more material, thought this inquiry
was occasioned by contact with his body, but he knew
it was mind in the multitude that called on him for aid
to destroy its beliefs, and make it more spiritual, even
as himself. His quick apprehension of this arose from
his spirituality, and their misconception, from their
materiality; not that he deserved less the advantages
of adroitness, because of his goodness; but possessing
the insight and honor that cometh from Soul, only, he
had less personal sense; these two come from opposite
directions, and the treasures of our Master were laid up
in Spirit, not matter. Christianity turns from sense to
Soul, as naturally as the flower turns from darkness to
light; those things eye hath not seen, or ear heard,