Miscellaneous Writings, 1883-1896 Part 31

To A Student

_My Beloved Student:_-In reply to your letter I will say: G.o.d's ways are not as our ways; but higher far than the heavens above the earth is His wisdom above ours. When I requested you to be ordained, I little [5]

thought of the changes about to be made. When I insisted on your speaking without notes, I little knew that so soon another change in your pulpit would be demanded.

But now, after His messenger has obeyed the message of divine Love, comes the interpretation thereof. But you [10]

see we both had first to obey, and to do this through faith, not sight.

The meaning of it all, as now shown, is this: when you were bidden to be ordained, it was in reward for your faithful service, thus to honor it. The second command, [15]

to drop the use of notes, was to rebuke a lack of faith in divine help, and to test your humility and obedience in bearing this cross.

All G.o.d's servants are minute men and women. As of old, I stand with sandals on and staff in hand, wait- [20]

ing for the watchword and the revelation of what, how, whither. Let us be faithful and obedient, and G.o.d will do the rest.

In the April number of _The Christian Science Journal_ you will find the forthcoming completion (as I now think) [25]

of the divine directions sent out to the churches. It is satisfactory to note, however, that the order therein given corresponds to the example of our Master. Jesus was not ordained as our churches ordain ministers. We have no record that he used notes when preaching. He

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spake in their synagogues, reading the Scriptures and [1]

expounding them; and G.o.d has given to this age "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," to elucidate His Word.

You may read this letter to your church, and then [5]

send it to Rev. Mr. Norcross, and he will understand.

May the G.o.d of all grace give you peace.

With love, MARY BAKER EDDY

Extract From A Christmas Letter

_Beloved Students_:-My heart has many rooms: one of these is sacred to the memory of my students. Into this upper chamber, where all things are pure and of good report,-into this sanctuary of love,-I often retreat, sit silently, and ponder. In this chamber is [15]

memory's wardrobe, where I deposit certain recollec- tions and rare grand collections once in each year. This is my Christmas storehouse. Its goods commemorate, -not so much the Bethlehem babe, as the man of G.o.d, the risen Christ, and the adult Jesus. Here I deposit [20]

the gifts that my dear students offer at the shrine of Christian Science, and to their lone Leader. Here I talk once a year,-and this is a bit of what I said in 1890: "O glorious Truth! O Mother Love! how has the sense of Thy children grown to behold _Thee_! and how have [25]

many weary wings sprung upward! and how has our Model, Christ, been unveiled to us, and to the age!"

I look at the rich devices in embroidery, silver, gold, and jewels,-all gifts of Christian Scientists from all parts of our nation, and some from abroad,-then al- [30]

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most marvel at the power and permanence of affection [1]

under the _regime_ of Christian Science! Never did grati- tude and love unite more honestly in uttering the word _thanks_, than ours at this season. But a mother's love behind words has no language; it may give no material [5]

token, but lives steadily on, through time and circ.u.m- stance, as part and paramount portion of her being.

Thus may our lives flow on in the same sweet rhythm of head and heart, till they meet and mingle in bliss super- nal. There is a special joy in knowing that one is gaining [10]

constantly in the knowledge of Truth and divine Love.

Your progress, the past year, has been marked. It satis- fies my present hope. Of this we rest a.s.sured, that every trial of our faith in G.o.d makes us stronger and firmer in understanding and obedience. [15]

Lovingly yours, MARY BAKER G. EDDY

CHAPTER VI. SERMONS.

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A Christmas Sermon

Delivered in Chickering Hall, Boston, Ma.s.s., on the Sunday Before Christmas, 1888

SUBJECT: _The Corporeal and Incorporeal Saviour_

TEXT: _For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the_ [5]

_government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called_ _Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty G.o.d, The everlasting Father, The_ _Prince of Peace._-ISAIAH ix. 6.

To the senses, Jesus was the son of man: in Science, man is the son of G.o.d. The material senses could [10]

not cognize the Christ, or Son of G.o.d: it was Jesus'

approximation to this state of being that made him the Christ-Jesus, the G.o.dlike, the anointed.

The prophet whose words we have chosen for our text, prophesied the appearing of this dual nature, as [15]

both human and divinely endowed, the personal and the impersonal Jesus.

The only record of our Master as a public benefactor, or personal Saviour, opens when he was thirty years of age; owing in part, perhaps, to the Jewish law that none [20]

should teach or preach in public under that age. Also, it is natural to conclude that at this juncture he was specially endowed with the Holy Spirit; for he was given the new name, Messiah, or Jesus Christ,-the G.o.d-

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anointed; even as, at times of special enlightenment, [1]

Jacob was called Israel; and Saul, Paul.

The third event of this eventful period,-a period of such wonderful spiritual import to mankind!-was the advent of a higher Christianity. [5]

From this dazzling, G.o.d-crowned summit, the Naza- rene stepped suddenly before the people and their schools of philosophy; Gnostic, Epicurean, and Stoic. He must stem these rising angry elements, and walk serenely over their fretted, foaming billows. [10]

Here the cross became the emblem of Jesus' history; while the central point of his Messianic mission was peace, good will, love, teaching, and healing.