May 31st, 2023

From The Bible

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
(Hebrews 3:14)

¶ Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, ...

Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity ...

And he brought up ... Esther, his uncle's daughter: ... and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. ...

And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight ... so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen ...
(Esther 2:5 (to 2nd ,), 6 (to captivity), 7 (to up), 7 Esther (to :), 7 2nd and, 17 (to sight), 17 so (to queen))

After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. ...

And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

... wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai. ...

... ¶ And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: ...

And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
(Esther 3:1, 2, 5, 6 wherefore, 8, 9 (to :), 10, 11)

And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; ...

... ¶ So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; ...

And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. ...

Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.
(Esther 4:3 (to ;), 4 (to ;), 12, 16, 17)

¶ And the king said unto Esther ... What is thy petition? ...

Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is; If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to-morrow as the king hath said.
(Esther 5:6 (to Esther), 6 What (to 1st ?), 7, 8)

So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. ...

... ¶ Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
(Esther 7:1–4 (to 1st .), 5, 6)

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
(Esther 8:1, 2)

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
(Proverbs 21:1–3)

... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
(James 5:16 The)

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
(Luke 11:1–10)

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. ...
(Luke 18:1–8 (to .))

¶ And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw aught. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
(Mark 8:22–25)

 

SCIENCE AND HEALTH WITH KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES by MARY BAKER EDDY

Science shows that material, conflicting mortal opinions and beliefs emit the effects of error at all times, but this atmosphere of mortal mind cannot be destructive to morals and health when it is opposed promptly and persistently by Christian Science. Truth and Love antidote this mental miasma, and thus invigorate and sustain existence. Unnecessary knowledge gained from the five senses is only temporal, — the conception of mortal mind, the offspring of sense, not of Soul, Spirit, — and symbolizes all that is evil and perishable. Natural science, as it is commonly called, is not really natural nor scientific, because it is deduced from the evidence of the material senses. Ideas, on the contrary, are born of Spirit, and are not mere inferences drawn from material premises.

... Hence Christianity and the Science which expounds it are based on spiritual understanding, and they supersede the so-called laws of matter. Jesus demonstrated this great verity.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 273:29; 274:13–17)

If we look to the body for pleasure, we find pain; for Life, we find death; for Truth, we find error; for Spirit, we find its opposite, matter. Now reverse this action. Look away from the body into Truth and Love, the Principle of all happiness, harmony, and immortality. Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 260:31)

Will-power is capable of all evil. It can never heal the sick, for it is the prayer of the unrighteous; while the exercise of the sentiments — hope, faith, love — is the prayer of the righteous. This prayer, governed by Science instead of the senses, heals the sick.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 206:10)

Justice is the moral signification of law. Injustice declares the absence of law. When the body is supposed to say, “I am sick,” never plead guilty. Since matter cannot talk, it must be mortal mind which speaks; therefore meet the intimation with a protest. ...

Mentally contradict every complaint from the body, and rise to the true consciousness of Life as Love, — as all that is pure, and bearing the fruits of Spirit.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 391:17–22 (to 1st .), 29–32)

The nature of Christianity is peaceful and blessed, but in order to enter into the kingdom, the anchor of hope must be cast beyond the veil of matter into the Shekinah into which Jesus has passed before us; and this advance beyond matter must come through the joys and triumphs of the righteous as well as through their sorrows and afflictions. Like our Master, we must depart from material sense into the spiritual sense of being.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 40:31)

The habitual struggle to be always good is unceasing prayer. Its motives are made manifest in the blessings they bring, — blessings which, even if not acknowledged in audible words, attest our worthiness to be partakers of Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 4:12)

We approach God, or Life, in proportion to our spirituality, our fidelity to Truth and Love; and in that ratio we know all human need and are able to discern the thought of the sick and the sinning for the purpose of healing them. Error of any kind cannot hide from the law of God.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 95:6)

Your influence for good depends upon the weight you throw into the right scale. ...

... Whatever holds human thought in line with unselfed love, receives directly the divine power.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 192:21–23, 30)

Love for God and man is the true incentive in both healing and teaching. Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way. Right motives give pinions to thought, and strength and freedom to speech and action. Love is priestess at the altar of Truth. Wait patiently for divine Love to move upon the waters of mortal mind, and form the perfect concept. Patience must “have her perfect work.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 454:17)

Let us accept Science, relinquish all theories based on sense-testimony, give up imperfect models and illusive ideals; and so let us have one God, one Mind, and that one perfect, producing His own models of excellence.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 249:1)

Whoever would demonstrate the healing of Christian Science must abide strictly by its rules, heed every statement, and advance from the rudiments laid down. There is nothing difficult nor toilsome in this task, when the way is pointed out; but self-denial, sincerity, Christianity, and persistence alone win the prize, as they usually do in every department of life.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 462:13)

Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 495:28–31)

Thus it is that we “prove all things; [and] hold fast that which is good.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 464:19)

BORN AGAIN

It was in April, 1904, that I first heard the “still, small voice” of the Christ and received healing through Christian Science; and the blessings have been so many since, that it would take too much space to name them. ... a dear friend left Science and Health upon my piano one day, saying that I would gain much good by reading it.

... I had read only a short time when such a wonderful transformation took place! I was renewed; born again. Mere words cannot tell the story of the mighty uplifting that carried me to the very gates of heaven. ... My health is splendid, and I am striving to let my light so shine that others may be led to the truth. There have been some mighty struggles with error, and I have learned that we cannot reach heaven with one long stride or easily drift inside the gate, but that the “asking” and the “seeking” and the “knocking” must be earnest and persistent. ...

... C. B. G., Hudson, Mass.
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 667:19–24; 668:12 a, 16–20, 24; 669:23 C)

Christian science hymnals

Arise, arise and shine, / On thee hath dawned the day; / God is thy sun, and Christ thy light, / Be thou a steadfast ray.

Sing praise, O waking heart, / For all thy God hath wrought; / For Truth's clear light on thee hath shone, / And purified thy thought.

No more shall sin and wrong / Obscure the light divine, / For God hath given thee His Son, / And lo, all things are thine.

Arise, arise and shine, / Uplift thee from the sod, / And let thy living light show forth / Man's unity with God.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 14)

The heavens declare the glory / Of Him who made all things; / Each day repeats the story, / Each night its tribute brings. / To earth's remotest border / His mighty power is known; / In beauty, grandeur, order, / His handiwork is shown.

His law man's pathway brightens, / His judgments all are pure, / His Word the thought enlightens, / And ever shall endure. / To heed His testimony, / And Wisdom's way to hold, / Is sweeter far than honey, / And better far than gold.

In daily contemplation / Of Thee, I take delight; / O, let my meditation / Lay hold of Thee aright. / O, aid me in suppression / Of idle thought or word; / O, keep me from transgression, / Redeemer, strength, and Lord.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 329)

We're steadfastly protected by Your power, / Encircled in the caring arms of Love. / Together, we are sharing all our days now, / And year by year come blessings from above.

REFRAIN / We're each held safe by God's own holy power. / Whatever comes, Your comfort is at hand. / You're at our side at evening and at morning, / And each new day unfolds as You have planned.

Your pure and quiet love spreads o'er us deeply; / We know Your fullness now and feel Your peace. / For Your one holy world of grace and power, / We all praise You with joy that will not cease. / / REFRAIN
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 594)