Chapter VIII - Footsteps Of Truth
Spiritual ignorance
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They are at war with Science, and as our Master said,
They are at war with Science, and as our Master said,
"If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom
cannot stand."
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Human ignorance of Mind and of the recuperative
Human ignorance of Mind and of the recuperative
energies of Truth occasions the only skepticism regard-
ing the pathology and theology of Christian Science.
Eternal man recognized
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When false human beliefs learn even a little of their
When false human beliefs learn even a little of their
own falsity, they begin to disappear. A knowledge of
error and of its operations must precede that
understanding of Truth which destroys error,
until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears,
and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit,
is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his
Maker.
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The false evidence of material sense contrasts strikingly
The false evidence of material sense contrasts strikingly
with the testimony of Spirit. Material sense lifts its voice
with the arrogance of reality and says:
Testimony of sense
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I am wholly dishonest, and no man knoweth it. I can
I am wholly dishonest, and no man knoweth it. I can
cheat, lie, commit adultery, rob, murder, and I elude
detection by smooth-tongued villainy. Ani-
mal in propensity, deceitful in sentiment,
fraudulent in purpose, I mean to make my short span
of life one gala day. What a nice thing is sin! How
sin succeeds, where the good purpose waits! The world
is my kingdom. I am enthroned in the gorgeousness
of matter. But a touch, an accident, the law of God,
may at any moment annihilate my peace, for all my
fancied joys are fatal. Like bursting lava, I expand but
to my own despair, and shine with the resplendency of
consuming fire.
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Spirit, bearing opposite testimony, saith:
Spirit, bearing opposite testimony, saith:
Testimony of Soul
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I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my
I am Spirit. Man, whose senses are spiritual, is my
253:1
likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am
likeness. He reflects the infinite understanding, for I am
Infinity. The beauty of holiness, the perfection of being,
imperishable glory, – all are Mine, for I am
God. I give immortality to man, for I am
Truth. I include and impart all bliss, for I am Love.
I give life, without beginning and without end, for I am
Life. I am supreme and give all, for I am Mind. I am
the substance of all, because I AM THAT I AM.
Heaven-bestowed prerogative
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I hope, dear reader, I am leading you into the under-
I hope, dear reader, I am leading you into the under-
standing of your divine rights, your heaven-bestowed har-
mony, – that, as you read, you see there is no
cause (outside of erring, mortal, material sense
which is not power) able to make you sick or
sinful; and I hope that you are conquering this false sense.
Knowing the falsity of so-called material sense, you can
assert your prerogative to overcome the belief in sin, dis-
ease, or death.
Right endeavor possible
253:18
If you believe in and practise wrong knowingly, you
If you believe in and practise wrong knowingly, you
can at once change your course and do right. Matter can
make no opposition to right endeavors against
sin or sickness, for matter is inert, mindless.
Also, if you believe yourself diseased, you can
alter this wrong belief and action without hindrance from
the body.
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Do not believe in any supposed necessity for sin, dis-
Do not believe in any supposed necessity for sin, dis-
ease, or death, knowing (as you ought to know) that God
never requires obedience to a so-called material law, for
no such law exists. The belief in sin and death is de-
stroyed by the law of God, which is the law of Life in-
stead of death, of harmony instead of discord, of Spirit
instead of the flesh.
Patience and final perfection
253:32
The divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect," is sci-
The divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect," is sci-