The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-11-23

the gift of God, and who it is that
saith to thee. Give me to drink;
thou wouldest have asked Of him,
and he would have given thee liv-
ing water"
If thou knewest the gift of
God" said he. Gods gift differs
from material gifts, for it is not
subject to rejection-it must be
accepted ultimately, by everyone.
In our blindness and self-assertive-
ness we may withhold acceptance
and postpone a gracious yielding
to the valid demands of divine law.
But in ignoring the gift of God"
we deceive ourselves. for 1t Is al
ways at hand and is ours now.
Paul declared, THE gift of God Is
eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord" Full enjoyment Of this
gift awaits a change of thought
on our part. That change is going
on in human consciousness con-
tinuously, unfolding to each one,
in proportion to his receptvity to
Truth.
Christian Scientists are con-
WINGED that they have found the
gift of God" and their conviction
is supported by the regenerating
effect of Christian Science on hu-
man lives. This is divine revela-
ton. not something of human de-
vising nor a personally contriyed
system. It is from the source OF
every good gift and every per-
feet gift" these, the Apostle
James tells us, are from above,
from the Father of lights
This good gift from above
is free to all. No one has to go
anywhere to obtain it. No one
has to wait for a future time. the
time and the place are established.
They are here and now, since Coo
is everywhere; and wherever Goa
is, His good gift" is.
Inc Setu OF ifuh
Christian Science exerts a vital
influence in the lives of all VINO
earnestly seek to follow its rules
and they find it a real privilege
To share its blessings with those
who have a listening ear. They
have the incentive expressed in
much-loved hymn:
.For we must share, If we would
keep
That blessing from above;
They cease to have who cease to
give:
Such is the law of Love-
knowledge of true being per-
forms but little service, even for
ones self. if it is not shared. Good
cannot be confined; it is universal.
There is no such thing as self
centered good. Our spiritual
understanding must be kept ac-
lively engaged as a missionary IN
the highways of human Thought
Il il is to be of lasting use 10 us.
Exponents of this demonstraole
Truth do not expect the world TO
give unquestioning eredenee to the
claims made for Christian Science.
On the contrary, they ask that 1t
be Judged by its fruits, and offer
positive proof of its efficacy.
Some specific cases of healing OF
human problems will be mentioned
during the hour devoted to this
address. Christian Science heals
not alone physical difficulties. 1t
e. equal to meeting and mastering
every form of error, in demon
stration of mans God-given do
minion as declared in the very
first chapter of the Bible. This
dominion is all-inelusive and II
touches every phase of human IN
terests. II is exercised spiritually
not materially, not through hui
man will power.
Demonstration of Dominion
Mans God-given dominion would
have TO be annulled or surrendered
before man could be subject TO dis
ease. poverty, sin, or death. But
God would not annul, and man
could not surrender. the dominion
which is the very essence OF mans
existence. Healing in Christian
Science requires an understanding
of God as the perfect creator Of a
perfect universe which cannot
lapse from perfection in any par
ticular.
The course OF a Christian Sci
ence treatment IS based on pereep-
ton Of Gods creation as wholly
spiritual. as the ideas Of divine
Mind. II deals with all phases OF
discord as mortal-minded beliefs
which have no real existence. FOR
instance. the process IN a treat
ment for physical inharmony Is
not to view a sick man as one VINO
needs 70 be relieved Of bis belief
that health il material and can ne
lost. Health Is a condition OF
divine Mind and cannot be I'M
paired. We are not 10 weaken our
denials Of the claims OF evil BY
accepting testimony Of the physi'
cal senses that there is in opera
ton an evil influence exerting q
power greater than Gods We arc
to strengthen our affirnlations Of
the supremacy Of good by know
ing that such errors are only NOR