Chapter IX - Creation
Godward gravitation
265:1
and its government is divine Science. Man is the off-
and its government is divine Science. Man is the off-
spring, not of the lowest, but of the highest qualities of
Mind. Man understands spiritual existence
in proportion as his treasures of Truth and
Love are enlarged. Mortals must gravitate Godward,
their affections and aims grow spiritual, – they must near
the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper
sense of the infinite, – in order that sin and mortality
may be put off.
265:10
This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for
This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for
Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity
and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man en-
larged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action,
a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent
peace.
Mortal birth and death
265:16
The senses represent birth as untimely and death as
The senses represent birth as untimely and death as
irresistible, as if man were a weed growing apace or a
flower withered by the sun and nipped by
untimely frosts; but this is true only of a
mortal, not of a man in God's image and likeness. The
truth of being is perennial, and the error is unreal and
obsolete.
Blessings from pain
265:23
Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained
Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained
stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after
heavenly good comes even before we discover
what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss
of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending
path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform
us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is
spiritual.
Decapitation of error
265:31
The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away
The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away
false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections
266:1
from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good,
from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good,
"rejoicing the heart." Such is the sword of
Science, with which Truth decapitates error,
materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and
destiny.
Uses of adversity
266:6
Would existence without personal friends be to you
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.
266:20
The sinner makes his own hell by doing evil, and the
The sinner makes his own hell by doing evil, and the
saint his own heaven by doing right. The opposite per-
secutions of material sense, aiding evil with evil, would
deceive the very elect.
Beatific presence
266:24
Mortals must follow Jesus' sayings and his demonstra-
Mortals must follow Jesus' sayings and his demonstra-
tions, which dominate the flesh. Perfect and infinite
Mind enthroned is heaven. The evil beliefs
which originate in mortals are hell. Man is the
idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming
the universe with light. Man is deathless, spiritual. He
is above sin or frailty. He does not cross the barriers
of time into the vast forever of Life, but he coexists with
God and the universe.