Chapter II - Atonement And Eucharist
Jesus' sinless career
20:1
even God, good. He rendered "unto Caesar the things
even God, good. He rendered "unto Caesar the things
which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are
God's." He at last paid no homage to forms of doctrine
or to theories of man, but acted and spake as he was moved,
not by spirits but by Spirit.
20:6
To the ritualistic priest and hypocritical Pharisee
To the ritualistic priest and hypocritical Pharisee
Jesus said, "The publicans and the harlots go into the
kingdom of God before you." Jesus' history made a
new calendar, which we call the Christian era; but he
established no ritualistic worship. He knew that men
can be baptized, partake of the Eucharist, support the
clergy, observe the Sabbath, make long prayers, and yet
be sensual and sinful.
Perfect example
20:14
Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal
Jesus bore our infirmities; he knew the error of mortal
belief, and "with his stripes [the rejection of error] we are
healed." "Despised and rejected of men,"
returning blessing for cursing, he taught mor-
tals the opposite of themselves, even the nature of God;
and when error felt the power of Truth, the scourge and
the cross awaited the great Teacher. Yet he swerved not,
well knowing that to obey the divine order and trust God,
saves retracing and traversing anew the path from sin to
holiness.
Behest of the cross
20:24
Material belief is slow to acknowledge what the
Material belief is slow to acknowledge what the
spiritual fact implies. The truth is the centre of all
religion. It commands sure entrance into
the realm of Love. St. Paul wrote, "Let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that
is set before us;" that is, let us put aside material self
and sense, and seek the divine Principle and Science of
all healing.
Moral victory
21:1
If Truth is overcoming error in your daily walk and
If Truth is overcoming error in your daily walk and
conversation, you can finally say, "I have fought a
good fight . . . I have kept the faith," be-
cause you are a better man. This is having
our part in the at-one-ment with Truth and Love.
Christians do not continue to labor and pray, expecting
because of another's goodness, suffering, and triumph,
that they shall reach his harmony and reward.
21:9
If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striv-
If the disciple is advancing spiritually, he is striv-
ing to enter in. He constantly turns away from ma-
terial sense, and looks towards the imperishable things
of Spirit. If honest, he will be in earnest from the
start, and gain a little each day in the right direction,
till at last he finishes his course with joy.
Inharmonious travellers
21:15
If my friends are going to Europe, while I am en
If my friends are going to Europe, while I am en
route for California, we are not journeying together.
We have separate time-tables to consult,
different routes to pursue. Our paths have
diverged at the very outset, and we have little oppor-
tunity to help each other. On the contrary, if my
friends pursue my course, we have the same railroad
guides, and our mutual interests are identical; or, if I
take up their line of travel, they help me on, and our
companionship may continue.
Zigzag course
21:25
Being in sympathy with matter, the worldly man is at
Being in sympathy with matter, the worldly man is at
the beck and call of error, and will be attracted thither-
ward. He is like a traveller going westward
for a pleasure-trip. The company is alluring
and the pleasures exciting. After following the sun for
six days, he turns east on the seventh, satisfied if he can
only imagine himself drifting in the right direction. By‑
and-by, ashamed of his zigzag course, he would borrow