Arizona republican., 1920-01-31

[ much as my father. And that is not surprising, since I was taught the fa therhood of God without adequate explanation of His infinite character. May it not be said truly that every individual that approaches the subject of Christian Science has a concept of Deity false in some degree? Mrs. Eddy saw this, and she saw also that these finite concepts, these false beliefs about God, operate to hinder the progress of humanity-because they leave mankind to deal with effects without a true knowledge of Cause. She therefore chose seven prominent synonyms of God which she said were intended to express the nature, essence and whole ness of Deity. (Science and Health, pg. 465.) Most of these synonyms. she took directly from the Bible, and all Of 1 them have Scriptural authority. These wonderful words are found in Science question. What is God?" God is in corporeal, divine, supreme infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love-" Note that not one of these words expresses a concept of God as finite, whether person or thing. John said, God is Love-" and love is not a person, nor a thing, love is prin- clple. Jesus said to the woman at the well, God is a Spirit" and spirit is not a person nor a thing, it is principle. When the Psalmist referred to Deity as God of truth, he did not speak of a person nor a thing, but of principle; when Moses said of God, he is thy life," and Job referred to God lin whose hand is the soul of every living thing" they used words which express in each case principle. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, said Paul, and showed that Mind is l Principle and not a person nor thing. These seven words each indicate, then, Principle, not person nor object, and are fully synonymous with God because they express the nature, essence, and wholeness of Deity
 Now the outstanding character Of Deity is His infinitude. God is infinite. incorporeal, that is, not limited, not bounded nor confined. The infinitude of God means, if it means anything at all. that God is one. without a second. Therefore God is the only Principle, the only Mind, the only Life, Truth, Love- the only Soul, the only Spirit.
 'The Lord he is God: there is none else beside him.
 The revelation of ''the larger thought of God" is enabling Christian Scientists to understand Him, to draw near to Him, to see his handiwork and to reject what is unlike the divine nature. What ever the problem confronting the Christian Scientist he never rests until he arrives at God. God must be in all his thoughts, for the presence of God means the presence of good and the ab- sence of evil.
 It is often remarked how intimately Christian Scientists speak of God We no longer regard Him feartfully, be- cause we have learned that He is divine Love. We no longer imagine Him to be magnified mortal. We have ceased to look for him geographically or as economically, or to circumscribe him in any way. But if to us his habitation Is no longer limited to place, we have gained the understanding of Gods pres erce everywhere. If we have lost our fear of Deity, we have gained for Him love and allegiance. If we have ceased somewhat to believe in the power of evil, it is because we have learned something of the all-power of God. To all who thus are becoming acquainted with God, are learning to trust him, and are striving to be like him. Mrs. Eddy refers in the opening line of her text book: To those leaning on the sus- thining infinite, today is big with bless iDgs." (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Preface VIL)
 Spiritual Sense and Heaven
 How do we know God and where do we find Him? Elijah in the mount be- fore the Lord learned that God was not in the whirlwind, not in the earthquake, rot in the fire-God was not in matter.
  man can understand God or know His abode through the finite senses, for mo man hath seen God at any time," Be- cause He is Spirit. He manifests Him. self spiritually. .They that worship Him." said Jesus. must worship Him in spirit and in truth" So Mrs Eddy wrote, (Science and Health, page 4SD Through spiritualS- sense only, man comprehends and loves Deity" And again, Science and Health, page 209) (: Spiritual sense is a conscious, con stant, capacity to understand God
 I recently read report of sermon by a clergyman on the subject, will Christian Scientists Go To Heaven?" Nc Christian Scientist can doubt that he will be in heaven just in the degree of his understanding of Jesus state ment, ''F'or, behold. the Kingdom of God is within you" God and heaven are within the grasp of spiritual perception alone. Orthodox views received a just rebuke from little child who. when asked where heaven is. replied "out in the graveyard" By unacceptable logic he had concluded that if God and heaven were reached through death. as he had been taught, the cemetery must be the gateway to the Kingdom. The Christian Scientist to whose inquiry | the child responded, was able to show him that since heaven is Gods home. | and God is everywhere. heaven must l be everywhere. She explained that God is Love and God is Good. and therefore | where love and good are found. there is | God and heaven: so to the child came | the joy of knowing Gods eternal near | ness, even His ever presence.
 Christian Science has come to restore | the right concept of heaven, and to re- veal it to be spiritual consciousness and there is not one in this audience | but may yield his material sense to that | divine influence and now and here enter | the realm of harmony.
 Man
 The restoration in consciousness of God as Spirit, or Mind, at once lifts | thought to n higher contemplation Of Gods creatiOn--man. Mankinds eSu- | mate of man has risen, of course no | higher than his estimate of God. False | beliefs about God have resulted 0irec.- l ly in erroneous concepts of man. So a | finite, material sense of the Creator | has been areflected in humanitys | thought of man as finite and material. | Christian Science comes to show the | a1eyff <.f 1fAf ar, fn roSfo