fering is the belief that suffering is a guide, a teacher, a helper. This is not true; it is mistaking effect for cause. To the Spirit alone belongs all the credit and praise for man's awakening to a desire for Truth, and to the ability to receive it. Some do seem to be driven into the Truth by unpleasant experiences, but by a little lifting of the eyes above the appearance to the reality, it is seen that the work of drawing out from old conditions into the new is done by the Spirit, and that much which is unpleasant is caused by unconscious resistance to the Spirit. The quickening Spirit's work is almost wholly unrecognized by the world. True it is that more or less mental and physical disturbance accompanies the quickening, but much of this could be avoided by a recognition of the work that is going on within; Who it is that is doing it, and by working in harmony with Him, instead of against Him. So long as one looks to suffering as his guide, so long will he be bound by it. Divine life and wisdom and power are ever pushing forth within man to a fuller, freer expression. Happy is he who sees what is crowding him, making his old environment seem so narrow and binding, and wisely opens himself to the inflow of new life, and goes with the tide instead of against it. Another hampering idea is that which associates time with things that are eternal. Eternity is now, always was, and always will be. The Bible is usually held responsible for the teaching that time is something that must end, and then eternity will begin. It does not so teach. The word "eternity" occurs in the Bible but once. In Isaiah 57:15 it is said of God that He "inhabiteth eternity." Nothing in the verse suggests eternity as something yet to be. In Rev. 10: 5, 6 it is written that the angels declared "there should be time no longer." The better translation is, "There should be delay no longer." The things of the Spirit are eternal. They are as true now as they ever were, or ever will. Now is the accepted time. Now is the day of salvation. This error thought concerning time and eternity is usually held in connection with the word "patience," and when so used such texts as, "Bring forth fruit with patience," and, "Let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect,” become discouraging. When seen in their true light they are encouraging. Patience is an attitude of mind, and has nothing to do with time. Impatience may be associated with length of time, but patience belongs to the Spirit and is therefore eternal. If time is a necessary idea in connection with patience, and patience is necessary to bring forth fruit, then no cases of instantaneous healing or help could ever have been or ever will be. Jesus knew how to dwell in that patient, trustful state of mind, and could do marvelous works without waiting months and years for patience to bring forth fruit after the seed was planted. "He spake, and it was done." If one insists that time is necessary, let him honestly admit that impatience and not patience requires it. One who thinks that impatience must have her perfect work, and run riot for a time in order that fruit may be brought forth, will find that so it will be to him. Error thoughts concerning death form impassable bars that shut one out from the kingdom of health and life. Paul's advice to Timothy was, "Lay hold on eternal life.” This is good counsel, but one will never heed it so long as he thinks he has eternal life without seeking it and laying hold of it. The natural man is not immortal. The mortal must put on immortality. This he can do only by putting on Christ, for "God only hath immortality." The world's belief that death is inevitable also shuts out the light of life. It is inevitable to one out of Christ, but to him who abides in the living, risen Christ, death cannot come. Man is organized life and intelligence, and if he wants to keep his organism he must know and obey the truth concerning it. The truth is, that his body is spiritual, and is the temple of the living God. That the body is material, that it is a house of clay, that it is a clog, a hindrance, is all false, and this false thought hampers the free expression of life in the body, and finally destroys the organism. It is hard to understand how men can hug to themselves the delusion that death, the destruction of the organism, is a friend waiting to transform them into angels of light, or something else equally intangible. They very likely do it thinking it the only way, and the right way to overcome fear of death. But some time the facts must be faced, and the false sense of security must vanish before the Truth that only in the living Christ is there eternal life. If death were the blessing claimed for it, Jesus' work was useless. He knew the Truth, and taught it, and today the light is dawning, and men are seeing that of a truth, "He that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life.” The resurrection joy is generally just something to talk about at Easter time. Some idea of what it really is can be gained by considering what the effect would be if the command and example of Jesus were followed in just one instance today. It is easy to imagine how the mourning in a home where death had entered, would be turned into gladness and joy and rejoicing, by raising the dead one to life, as Jesus did. No mourning was ever changed into overflowing joy by the old way of giving comfort. One might talk an age about the glories of being dead, and no sadness would flee away, no joyousness would come. There would be nothing follow but that helpless, resigned feeling. When man allows himself to be true to his inner self, there is something within him which rebels against the idea of death, and against the talk of the glories of a so-called spirit world. His body transformed into perfect health and strength and beauty by the Christ is a good enough "home of the soul" for him, and this earth, already fair will be fairer than any paradise imagined, when the Kingdom of Christ is come upon it. Truth, Truth is the only Comforter; it is the only Liberator. A TRANSCENDENT TREATMENT "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so shall the son of man be lifted up." Beloved of God-Greeting! In my integrity within me, where I know and see as God, I know and see you, O! Beloved, to be free, wise and immortal. I see you unfettered and unbound, triumphant! glorious! splendid! I see you unweighted by human thought of limitation, unweighted by matter. vine! I see you unbound, undiseased, bouyant, immortal! I see your eye lit with fire from on high! I see your tongue tipped with Celestial Instructions! I see you victorious! undaunted! I see you deathless! abiding! I see you flawless! fearless transcending yourself and all your affairs!-independent! I see you smiling! sound! sane! strong! I see you to be the strong Son of God, Brother of Jesus Christ and joint heir of the Father to all things in the Kingdom. I see you alive with God and upheld by his Free Spirit forever! All the world sees you as I see you now and evermore.-Rexford Jeffery. A PARALYTIC FORGIVEN AND HEALED.— Matt. 9:1-13. 1. And he entered into the boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city. 2. And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven. 3. And behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5. For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. 7. And he arose, and departed to his house. 8. But when the multitudes saw it, they were afraid, and glorified God, who had given such authority unto men. 9. And as Jesus passed by from thence, he saw a man, called Matthew, sitting at the place of toll: and he saith unto - him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. 10. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. 11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with the publicans and sinners? 12. But when he heard it, he said, They that are whole have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. |