Chapter XIV - Recapitulation
Organic construction valueless
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is real pleasure in sin; but the grand truths of Christian
is real pleasure in sin; but the grand truths of Christian
Science dispute this error.
Will-power an animal propensity
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Will-power is but a product of belief, and this belief
Will-power is but a product of belief, and this belief
commits depredations on harmony. Human will is an
animal propensity, not a faculty of Soul.
Hence it cannot govern man aright. Chris-
tian Science reveals Truth and Love as the
motive-powers of man. Will – blind, stubborn, and head-
long – cooperates with appetite and passion. From this
cooperation arises its evil. From this also comes its pow-
erlessness, since all power belongs to God, good.
Theories helpless
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The Science of Mind needs to be understood. Until
The Science of Mind needs to be understood. Until
it is understood, mortals are more or less deprived of
Truth. Human theories are helpless to make
man harmonious or immortal, since he is so
already, according to Christian Science. Our only need
is to know this and reduce to practice the real man's di-
vine Principle, Love
True nature and origin
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"Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings."
"Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings."
Human belief – or knowledge gained from the so-called
material senses – would, by fair logic, anni-
hilate man along with the dissolving elements
of clay. The scientifically Christian explanations of the
nature and origin of man destroy all material sense with
immortal testimony. This immortal testimony ushers
in the spiritual sense of being, which can be obtained
in no other way.
Sleep an illusion
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Sleep and mesmerism explain the mythical nature of
Sleep and mesmerism explain the mythical nature of
material sense. Sleep shows material sense as either
oblivion, nothingness, or an illusion or dream.
Under the mesmeric illusion of belief, a man
will think that he is freezing when he is warm, and that he
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is swimming when he is on dry land. Needle-thrusts will
is swimming when he is on dry land. Needle-thrusts will
not hurt him. A delicious perfume will seem intolerable.
Animal magnetism thus uncovers material sense, and
shows it to be a belief without actual foundation or va-
lidity. Change the belief, and the sensation changes.
Destroy the belief, and the sensation disappears.
Man linked with Spirit
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Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary
Material man is made up of involuntary and voluntary
error, of a negative right and a positive wrong, the latter
calling itself right. Man's spiritual individual-
ity is never wrong. It is the likeness of man's
Maker. Matter cannot connect mortals with the true
origin and facts of being, in which all must end. It is only
by acknowledging the supremacy of Spirit, which annuls
the claims of matter, that mortals can lay off mortality and
find the indissoluble spiritual link which establishes man
forever in the divine likeness, inseparable from his creator.
Material man as a dream
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The belief that matter and mind are one, – that mat-
The belief that matter and mind are one, – that mat-
ter is awake at one time and asleep at another, some-
times presenting no appearance of mind, –
this belief culminates in another belief, that
man dies. Science reveals material man as never the real
being. The dream or belief goes on, whether our eyes are
closed or open. In sleep, memory and consciousness are
lost from the body, and they wander whither they will
apparently with their own separate embodiment. Per-
sonality is not the individuality of man. A wicked man
may have an attractive personality.
Spiritual existence the one fact
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When we are awake, we dream of the pains and pleas-
When we are awake, we dream of the pains and pleas-
ures of matter. Who will say, even though he
does not understand Christian Science, that
this dream – rather than the dreamer – may
not be mortal man? Who can rationally say otherwise,
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when the dream leaves mortal man intact in body and
when the dream leaves mortal man intact in body and
thought, although the so-called dreamer is unconscious?
For right reasoning there should be but one fact before
the thought, namely, spiritual existence. In reality there
is no other existence, since Life cannot be united to its
unlikeness, mortality.
Mind one and all
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Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already
Being is holiness, harmony, immortality. It is already
proved that a knowledge of this, even in small degree,
will uplift the physical and moral standard
of mortals, will increase longevity, will purify
and elevate character. Thus progress will finally destroy
all error, and bring immortality to light. We know that
a statement proved to be good must be correct. New
thoughts are constantly obtaining the floor. These two
contradictory theories – that matter is something, or
that all is Mind – will dispute the ground, until one is
acknowledged to be the victor. Discussing his cam-
paign, General Grant said: "I propose to fight it out on
this line, if it takes all summer." Science says: All is
Mind and Mind's idea. You must fight it out on this
line. Matter can afford you no aid.
Scientific ultimatum
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The notion that mind and matter commingle in the
The notion that mind and matter commingle in the
human illusion as to sin, sickness, and death must even-
tually submit to the Science of Mind, which
denies this notion. God is Mind, and God is
infinite; hence all is Mind. On this statement rests the
Science of being, and the Principle of this Science is di-
vine, demonstrating harmony and immortality.
Victory for Truth
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The conservative theory, long believed, is that there
The conservative theory, long believed, is that there
are two factors, matter and mind, uniting on some im-
possible basis. This theory would keep truth and error
always at war. Victory would perch on neither banner.
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On the other hand, Christian Science speedily shows
On the other hand, Christian Science speedily shows
Truth to be triumphant. To corporeal sense, the sun
appears to rise and set, and the earth to stand
still; but astronomical science contradicts this,
and explains the solar system as working on a differ-
ent plan. All the evidence of physical sense and all the
knowledge obtained from physical sense must yield to
Science, to the immortal truth of all things.
Mental preparation
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Question, – Will you explain sickness and show how it
Question, – Will you explain sickness and show how it
is to be healed?
Answer. – The method of Christian Science Mind-heal-
ing is touched upon in a previous chapter entitled Christian
Science Practice. A full answer to the above
question involves teaching, which enables the
healer to demonstrate and prove for himself the Principle
and rule of Christian Science or metaphysical healing.
Mind destroys all ills
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Mind must be found superior to all the beliefs of the
Mind must be found superior to all the beliefs of the
five corporeal senses, and able to destroy all ills. Sick-
ness is a belief, which must be annihilated by
the divine Mind. Disease is an experience of
so-called mortal mind. It is fear made manifest on the
body. Christian Science takes away this physical sense
of discord, just as it removes any other sense of moral or
mental inharmony. That man is material, and that mat-
ter suffers, – these propositions can only seem real and
natural in illusion. Any sense of soul in matter is not the
reality of being.
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If Jesus awakened Lazarus from the dream, illusion, of
If Jesus awakened Lazarus from the dream, illusion, of
death, this proved that the Christ could improve on a false
sense. Who dares to doubt this consummate test of the
power and willingness of divine Mind to hold man forever
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intact in his perfect state, and to govern man's entire
intact in his perfect state, and to govern man's entire
action? Jesus said: "Destroy this temple [body], and
in three days I [Mind] will raise it up;" and he did this
for tired humanity's reassurance.
Inexhaustible divine Love
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Is it not a species of infidelity to believe that so great
Is it not a species of infidelity to believe that so great
a work as the Messiah's was done for himself or for God,
who needed no help from Jesus' example to
preserve the eternal harmony? But mortals
did need this help, and Jesus pointed the way for them.
Divine Love always has met and always will meet every
human need. It is not well to imagine that Jesus demon-
strated the divine power to heal only for a select number
or for a limited period of time, since to all mankind and
in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.
Reason and Science
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The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus
The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus
demonstrated the inability of corporeality, as well as the
infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring
human sense to flee from its own convictions
and seek safety in divine Science. Reason, rightly di-
rected, serves to correct the errors of corporeal sense; but
sin, sickness, and death will seem real (even as the ex-
periences of the sleeping dream seem real) until the Sci-
ence of man's eternal harmony breaks their illusion with
the unbroken reality of scientific being.
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Which of these two theories concerning man are you
Which of these two theories concerning man are you
ready to accept? One is the mortal testimony, changing,
dying, unreal. The other is the eternal and real evidence,
bearing Truth's signet, its lap piled high with immortal
fruits.
Followers of Jesus
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Our Master cast out devils (evils) and healed the sick.
Our Master cast out devils (evils) and healed the sick.
It should be said of his followers also, that they cast fear
and all evil out of themselves and others and heal the sick.
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God will heal the sick through man, whenever man is
God will heal the sick through man, whenever man is
governed by God. Truth casts out error now
as surely as it did nineteen centuries ago. All
of Truth is not understood; hence its healing power is not
fully demonstrated.
Destruction of all evil
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If sickness is true or the idea of Truth, you cannot
If sickness is true or the idea of Truth, you cannot
destroy sickness, and it would be absurd to try. Then
classify sickness and error as our Master did,
when he spoke of the sick, "whom Satan hath
bound," and find a sovereign antidote for error in the life‑
giving power of Truth acting on human belief, a power
which opens the prison doors to such as are bound, and
sets the captive free physically and morally.
Steadfast and calm trust
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When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling
When the illusion of sickness or sin tempts you, cling
steadfastly to God and His idea. Allow nothing but His
likeness to abide in your thought. Let neither
fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and
calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious – as
Life eternally is – can destroy any painful sense of, or
belief in, that which Life is not. Let Christian Science,
instead of corporeal sense, support your understanding of
being, and this understanding will supplant error with
Truth, replace mortality with immortality, and silence dis-
cord with harmony.
Rudiments and growth
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Question. – How can I progress most rapidly in the
Question. – How can I progress most rapidly in the
understanding of Christian Science?
Answer. – Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe
the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Chris-
tian Science and follow the behests of God,
abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and
Love. In the Science of Mind, you will soon ascertain
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that error cannot destroy error. You will also learn
that error cannot destroy error. You will also learn
that in Science there is no transfer of evil suggestions
from one mortal to another, for there is but one Mind,
and this ever-present omnipotent Mind is reflected by
man and governs the entire universe. You will learn
that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey
God, to have one Mind, and to love another as
yourself.
Condition of progress
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We all must learn that Life is God. Ask yourself:
We all must learn that Life is God. Ask yourself:
Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good?
Am I demonstrating the healing power of
Truth and Love? If so then the way will
grow brighter "unto the perfect day." Your fruits
will prove what the understanding of God brings to man.
Hold perpetually this thought, – that it is the spiritual
idea, the Holy Ghost and Christ, which enables you to
demonstrate, with scientific certainty, the rule of healing,
based upon its divine Principle, Love, underlying, over-
lying, and encompassing all true being.
Triumph over death
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"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is
the law," – the law of mortal belief, at war with the
facts of immortal Life, even with the spiritual
law which says to the grave, "Where is thy
victory?" But "when this corruptible shall have put
on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on im-
mortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
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Question. – Have Christian Scientists any religious
Question. – Have Christian Scientists any religious
creed?
Answer. – They have not, if by that term is meant
doctrinal beliefs. The following is a brief exposition of
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the important points, or religious tenets, of Christian
the important points, or religious tenets, of Christian
Science: –
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1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word
1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word
of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.
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2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and in-
2. We acknowledge and adore one supreme and in-
finite God. We acknowledge His Son, one Christ; the
Holy Ghost or divine Comforter; and man in God's
image and likeness.
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3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the
3. We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the
destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that
casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is pun-
ished so long as the belief lasts.
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4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evi-
4. We acknowledge Jesus' atonement as the evi-
dence of divine, efficacious Love, unfolding man's unity
with God through Christ Jesus the Way-shower; and
we acknowledge that man is saved through Christ,
through Truth, Life, and Love as demonstrated by the
Galilean Prophet in healing the sick and overcoming
sin and death.
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5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and
5. We acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and
his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eter-
nal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the noth-
ingness of matter.
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6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for
6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for
that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to
do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and
to be merciful, just, and pure.
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KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES
KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES
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These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that
These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that
hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth;
and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold,
I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.
– REVELATION.
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Chapter XV
Genesis
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob by the
name of God Almighty; but by My name Jehovah was I not known to
them. – EXODUS.
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything
made that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of
men. – JOHN.
Spiritual interpretation
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SCIENTIFIC interpretation of the Scriptures prop-
SCIENTIFIC interpretation of the Scriptures prop-
erly starts with the beginning of the Old Testa-
ment, chiefly because the spiritual import of
the Word, in its earliest articulations, often
seems so smothered by the immediate context as to
require explication; whereas the New Testament narra-
tives are clearer and come nearer the heart. Jesus il-
lumines them, showing the poverty of mortal existence,
but richly recompensing human want and woe with
spiritual gain. The incarnation of Truth, that amplifi-
cation of wonder and glory which angels could only
whisper and which God illustrated by light and har-
mony, is consonant with ever-present Love. So-called
mystery and miracle, which subserve the end of natural
good, are explained by that Love for whose rest the
weary ones sigh when needing something more native
to their immortal cravings than the history of perpetual
evil.
Spiritual overture
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A second necessity for beginning with Genesis is that
A second necessity for beginning with Genesis is that
the living and real prelude of the older Scriptures is so
brief that it would almost seem, from the
preponderance of unreality in the entire nar-
rative, as if reality did not predominate over unreality,
the light over the dark, the straight line of Spirit over
the mortal deviations and inverted images of the creator
and His creation.
Deflection of being
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Spiritually followed, the book of Genesis is the history
Spiritually followed, the book of Genesis is the history
of the untrue image of God, named a sinful mortal. This
deflection of being, rightly viewed, serves to
suggest the proper reflection of God and the
spiritual actuality of man, as given in the first chapter
of Genesis. Even thus the crude forms of human thought
take on higher symbols and significations, when scien-
tifically Christian views of the universe appear, illuminat-
ing time with the glory of eternity.
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In the following exegesis, each text is followed by its
In the following exegesis, each text is followed by its
spiritual interpretation according to the teachings of Chris-
tian Science.
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EXEGESIS
EXEGESIS
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Genesis i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven
Genesis i. 1. In the beginning God created the heaven
and the earth.
Ideas and identities
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The infinite has no beginning. This word beginning
The infinite has no beginning. This word beginning
is employed to signify the only, – that is, the eternal ver-
ity and unity of God and man, including
the universe. The creative Principle – Life,
Truth, and Love – is God. The universe reflects God.
There is but one creator and one creation. This crea-
503:1
tion consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their
tion consists of the unfolding of spiritual ideas and their
identities, which are embraced in the infinite Mind and
forever reflected. These ideas range from the infini-
tesimal to infinity, and the highest ideas are the sons
and daughters of God.
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Genesis i. 2. And the earth was without form, and void;
Genesis i. 2. And the earth was without form, and void;
and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the
spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Spiritual harmony
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The divine Principle and idea constitute spiritual har-
The divine Principle and idea constitute spiritual har-
mony, – heaven and eternity. In the universe of Truth,
matter is unknown. No supposition of error
enters there. Divine Science, the Word of
God, saith to the darkness upon the face of error, "God
is All-in-all," and the light of ever-present Love illumines
the universe. Hence the eternal wonder, – that infinite
space is peopled with God's ideas, reflecting Him in
countless spiritual forms.
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Genesis i. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and
Genesis i. 3. And God said, Let there be light: and
there was light.
Mind's idea faultless
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Immortal and divine Mind presents the idea of God:
Immortal and divine Mind presents the idea of God:
first, in light; second, in reflection; third, in spiritual and
immortal forms of beauty and goodness. But
this Mind creates no element nor symbol of
discord and decay. God creates neither erring thought,
mortal life, mutable truth, nor variable love.
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Genesis i. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good:
Genesis i. 4. And God saw the light, that it was good:
and God divided the light from the darkness.
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God, Spirit, dwelling in infinite light and harmony
God, Spirit, dwelling in infinite light and harmony
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from which emanates the true idea, is never reflected by
from which emanates the true idea, is never reflected by
aught but the good.
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Genesis i. 5. And God called the light Day, and the
Genesis i. 5. And God called the light Day, and the
darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morn-
ing were the first day.
Light preceding the sun
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All questions as to the divine creation being both
All questions as to the divine creation being both
spiritual and material are answered in this passage, for
though solar beams are not yet included in
the record of creation, still there is light. This
light is not from the sun nor from volcanic flames, but it
is the revelation of Truth and of spiritual ideas. This
also shows that there is no place where God's light is not
seen, since Truth, Life, and Love fill immensity and are
ever-present. Was not this a revelation instead of a
creation?
Evenings and mornings
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The successive appearing of God's ideas is represented
The successive appearing of God's ideas is represented
as taking place on so many evenings and mornings, –
words which indicate, in the absence of solar
time, spiritually clearer views of Him, views
which are not implied by material darkness and dawn.
Here we have the explanation of another passage of
Scripture, that "one day is with the Lord as a thousand
years." The rays of infinite Truth, when gathered into
the focus of ideas, bring light instantaneously, whereas
a thousand years of human doctrines, hypotheses, and
vague conjectures emit no such effulgence.
Spirit versus darkness
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Did infinite Mind create matter, and call it light?
Did infinite Mind create matter, and call it light?
Spirit is light, and the contradiction of Spirit is matter,
darkness, and darkness obscures light. Mate-
rial sense is nothing but a supposition of the
absence of Spirit. No solar rays nor planetary revolutions
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form the day of Spirit. Immortal Mind makes its own
form the day of Spirit. Immortal Mind makes its own
record, but mortal mind, sleep, dreams, sin, disease, and
death have no record in the first chapter of Genesis.
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Genesis i. 6. And God said, Let there be a firmament in
Genesis i. 6. And God said, Let there be a firmament in
the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from
the waters.
Spiritual firmament
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Spiritual understanding, by which human conception,
Spiritual understanding, by which human conception,
material sense, is separated from Truth, is the firmament.
The divine Mind, not matter, creates all iden-
tities, and they are forms of Mind, the ideas of
Spirit apparent only as Mind, never as mindless matter
nor the so-called material senses.
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Genesis i. 7. And God made the firmament, and divided
Genesis i. 7. And God made the firmament, and divided
the waters which were under the firmament from the waters
which were above the firmament: and it was so.
Understanding imparted
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Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts con-
Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts con-
sciousness and leads into all truth. The Psalmist saith:
"The Lord on high is mightier than the noise
of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of
the sea." Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual
good. Understanding is the line of demarcation between
the real and unreal. Spiritual understanding unfolds
Mind, – Life, Truth, and Love, – and demonstrates the
divine sense, giving the spiritual proof of the universe in
Christian Science.
Original reflected
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This understanding is not intellectual, is not the result
This understanding is not intellectual, is not the result
of scholarly attainments; it is the reality of all things
brought to light. God's ideas reflect the im-
mortal, unerring, and infinite. The mortal,
erring, and finite are human beliefs, which apportion to
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themselves a task impossible for them, that of distinguish-
themselves a task impossible for them, that of distinguish-
ing between the false and the true. Objects utterly un-
like the original do not reflect that original. Therefore
matter, not being the reflection of Spirit, has no real en-
tity. Understanding is a quality of God, a quality which
separates Christian Science from supposition and makes
Truth final.
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Genesis i. 8. And God called the firmament Heaven.
Genesis i. 8. And God called the firmament Heaven.
And the evening and the morning were the second day.
Exalted thought
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Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites under-
Through divine Science, Spirit, God, unites under-
standing to eternal harmony. The calm and exalted
thought or spiritual apprehension is at peace.
Thus the dawn of ideas goes on, forming each
successive stage of progress.
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Genesis i. 9. And God said, Let the waters under the
Genesis i. 9. And God said, Let the waters under the
heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry
land appear: and it was so.
Unfolding of thoughts
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Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their
Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their
proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts,
even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose
in order that the purpose may appear.
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Genesis i. 10. And God called the dry land Earth; and
Genesis i. 10. And God called the dry land Earth; and
the gathering together of the waters called He Seas: and
God saw that it was good.
Spirit names and blesses
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Here the human concept and divine idea seem con-
Here the human concept and divine idea seem con-
fused by the translator, but they are not so in the scien-
tifically Christian meaning of the text. Upon
Adam devolved the pleasurable task of find-
ing names for all material things, but Adam has not yet