Why has this Christian demand so little inspiration
to stir mankind to Christian effort? Because men are
assured that this command was intended only for a particular
period and for a select number of
followers. This teaching is even more pernicious
than the old doctrine of foreordination, - the election of a
few to be saved, while the rest are damned; and so it will
be considered, when the lethargy of mortals, produced
by man-made doctrines, is broken by the demands of
divine Science.
Jesus said: "These signs shall follow them that believe;
. . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they
shall recover." Who believes him? He was addressing
his disciples, yet he did not say, "These signs shall follow
you," but them - "them that believe" in all time to come.
Here the word hands is used metaphorically, as in the text,
"The right hand of the Lord is exalted." It expresses
spiritual power; otherwise the healing could not have
been done spiritually. At another time Jesus prayed, not
for the twelve only, but for as many as should believe
"through their word."
topic 53 -
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