The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1913-09-17


perfect illustration and it's complete
proof in the teaching and example o
Jesus 1t reveals, awakens and de
yeIons the divine possibilities that eX
list, latently. in every one. 1t shows
how to throw Off the liabilities, the
disabilities and the liabilities tha
have been imposed on men by ages
of wrong thinking, and how to gail
.-,eir tceu manhood. 1t explains the
so called miracles of Jesus as acts Of
Dower, spirituany natural and absO
luteiy lawful, which exposed the falls
ity of the material sense Of nature and
law.
ynristlan Science -ostroys and pre-
vents disease by lifting thoug-.. above
the cause and condition of disorde'
into the kingdom of God-intO the at
mosphese of divine Truth and Life. 1t
reforms social conditions by giving
men motives and ideals that are work
able as well as altruistic. 1t defines
the obligation of the individual. not
only to God, but to his fellow men, in
terms of love and service. 1t exhibits
the spiritual power which justly be-
longs to goodness. 1t proves that
heaven is not merely the future home
of the righteous. but the present re-
ward Of right thinking and right do
ing.
Being. compassionate, helpful and
spiritual. tits Christian. Since it is
methodicai and calls for exact knowl-
edge anu is based on Principle, it is
Science.
Christian Science has now been
taught and practised long enough for
it's effects TO he observed in very
large number of cases. In this man
ner a great quantity of evidence has
accumulated to prove that its effects
are exceedingly wholesome. Con-
sistenuy practised it produces moral,
mental and physical health with cor
responding degree of happiness.
You have doubtless heard of, and
you are probably acquainted with. the
type of religionist who cannot enjoy
a period of thorough happiness with
out coming to twinges of conscience
and expecting to be the victim of some
calamity. No such state of thought
is begotteA by Christian Science, in
which Joy and peace are natural as
well as Cightful and belong to what
Paul described as the full assurance
of understanding"
Such being the case, it is reason
able to inquire why every one who
hears Of Christian Science does not
hasten to avail himself OF its benefits.
It meets human needs. and it does so
in the way that promises to deliver
humanity from the bondage OF evil.
Are the reasons valid which would
prevent you or me from making a
thorough inquiry into this subject?
This is a fair question: and will
therefore examine as many Of the ar
gnments designed to turn people ava;
from Christian Science as | can with
in the. time which you have put at my
disposal.
Perhaps the most frequent objec-
ton urged against Christian Sc;e nee
!c t!a! il 'cnie tn hi'l,il! of lre
Christ. What Christian Science does
teach on this subject is of such vast
importance to all mankind that l wish
to examine this question particularly
before taking up another topic. In
the writings of Mary Baker Eddy, the
discoverer and founde rof Christian
Science. the divinity OF the Christ is
often affirmed and never denied: hence
this censure. as it is commonly made.
does hSf"present a clear. statement of
the real issue.
The fact is that what Christian
Science denies is not the divinity of
the Christ. but the belief that Jesus
Sc lot
that God consists OF three persons.
This is the real issue: and of course
it is one that ought to be referred to
Jesus and settled by his own utter
ances as recorded in the New Tesla
ment TIE doctrine that would defy
him is within the scope of the subjects
on which he spoke, and if it were true,
he Would have confirmed it explicitly.
But suciI is not the case; on the con-
trary the gospel records Of his teach
ings show, both negatively and affirm
atively. that Jesus did not teach that
he was the Deity. nor that God con-
sists of three persons. He expressed
the, desire to be giorified, but never to
be deifed.
On looking through the gospels we
llllu Gildl JO0uo llC4uOHiy oPohC VI
himself as distinct from God. For in
stance, he said, aye believe in God,
believe also in me-" He referred to
himself with other men as worshiping
God-"We know what we worship
Again he plainly said that he was a
man-"a man that hath told you the
trutb"
Once he had dispute with the
Jews on this very question. They
took up stones to stone him and he
asked them. Why? They answered,
For biasphemy. and because that
thou. being a man, makest thyself
Cod In reply he did not deny that
he was man, but he corrected them
on the other point His words were.
81 said, ] am the son of God" Surely
in these circumstances if he were
God. he would have said so. If the
Deity were three persons of whom
he was one. he would not have spoken
as he did He was not the person to
dodge an issue; there was nothing
equivocai about him; and this in"'
dent occurred at the feast OF the ded-
ication of Jerusalem, where he was
"; ,t, az, cpoaI,;nU RI all who had ears