Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1906).djvu/282

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Science and Health

from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, Decapitation of error “rejoicing the heart.” Such is the sword of Science, with which Truth decapitates error, materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and destiny.

Would existence without personal friends be to you a blank? Then the time will come when you will be Uses of adversity 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.

The sinner makes his own hell by doing evil, and the saint his own heaven by doing right. The opposite persecutions of material sense, aiding evil with evil, would deceive the very elect.

Mortals must follow Jesus' sayings and his demonstrations, which dominate the flesh. Perfect and infinite Beatific presence 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.