The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-06-24
A LECTURE ON CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
CONTINUED from Paec Ninc)

ciple OF It's being and existence.
Goodness Not Personal
u the origin OF goodness were in the
human sense. it would not be Of God.
ana would not therefore be good but
evil There are hose, nevertheless,
who believe their goodness to be a per
sonal possession, humanity circum,
scribed. Such sense OF poss ession
or control over divine quality gives
rise to the belief that man can be
separate from God, or that he can lose
the quality altogether and fall Labor
ing under such false belief, ones
warfare against evil becomes ineffec-
tive, and the consequent suffering is
but the result of a false belief. Those
who glory in their belief OF goodness
should heed the Scripture about YES
sells of wrath fitted to destruction,
for the right of a mans will as against
that of God is as uon-eXisteut a.s that
OF an earthen vessel against the pot
ter who made it,. The one who comes
to Christian Science for healing, know
ing that he does not circumscribe any
goodness of his own, is more open to
ne benefcent teaching that these ui-
vine qualities eternally link him to
God, and is soonest healed thereby.
The action of this attribute on the
human mind and body illustrates the
action of Gods healing power The
recognition of mans true relation to
God brings the strength of healing
with the certainty Of birds flight
when 1t feels the strength of its wings.
Jobs Revelation.
This may be Illustrated by the eX-
periences Of Job. According to the rec
ord, in the book of job the sons of
God came to present themselves before
God, and Satan came also. When ask
ed where he came from Satan replied,
From going to and fro in the earth,
and from walking up and down in it."
Surely that is not so much a locality
as a fluctuating wave of error. Never
theless, it is to be noted that Satan
declared, in other words, that Jobs
goodness was a form C. selfshness,-
that it was a personal deire expressed
merely for the hope of a reward in
heaven, land that if that hope of a
reward were to be withdrawn, Job
would curse God to His face. Satan
declared, in other words that Jobs
goodness was a mixture of good and
evil. Permission was then given to
make a trial of his charge, to prove
whether he was good merely for the
sake of { reward
The first trial or temptation was
the destruction of Jobs property, but
that had no disturbing effect on his
goodness. Next his children were de-
stroyed, but that did not change his d.
vine purpose to be good. Finally the
Siiai NdS maui lllult pei SOudi. JOD
was afflicted with grieyous diseases
which tormented him so sorely that
his wife broke down under the stress
of it, Job, however, stood fast; he
was good just the same.
The trial had been made; the proof
was conclusive that Jobs goodness
was not for the sake Of a reward It
was proved to be divine attribute
from God that IS reflected through all
alike. BY these successive trials and
experiences Job was compelled to
rise step by step, to the recognition
of his goodness in its purity as a di-
vine attribute, At first he CROPPED about
darldy in the mazes OF a mere belief;
until compe led to rise above all op-
position he rose from belief to under
standing. This spiritual understand
ing inspired him to declare, yet in
my flesh shall see God" This is in
direct line with the words of Jesus in
NO Dtl nun bl4 INC NlOuhNt lplNooth
are the pure in heart; for they shall
see Cod 1t was that purity Of good-
ness that endowed Job with the spirit
ual vision not only to see God but to
avail himself of the power of God to
save himself from suffering and de-
struction In other words, it was that
spiritual understanding Of goodness in
its divine purity that communicated
the healing power Of God.
- job acquainted himself with God
not through his human intellect but
through the purity of his own GOOD
ness, understood Millions Of people
have been inspired by right desires
without having the ability to heal dis
ease But Mrs. Eddy explains in her
textbook, Science and Health with
Key to the Scriptures" (p. 29O that
until belief becomes faith, and faith
becomes spiritual understanding, hui
man thought has little relation to the
actual or divine" 1t is the understand