Accession: A10385A
Editorial Title: The Personal and Impersonal Saviour
Author: Mary Baker Eddy 
Scribe: unknown 
Date: December 23, 1888
Manuscript Description: Typed manuscript featuring handwritten edits by Mary Baker Eddy.
Editorial Note: This sermon, given by Mary Baker Eddy at Chickering Hall, was later published as a pamphlet and in Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, under the title "Christmas Sermon." Reports with excerpts were published in both the February and April 1889 issues of The Christian Science Journal. The author of the April article notes: "The Saviour set forth in this sermon is one that many are ready to receive, and it would be difficult to find in so small a compass so much Christian Science thought that is so near the plane of the best liberal thought of the Christian world outside of Science. At the same time, the higher the understanding of Science, the more will the thought of this sermon be seen to come from the highest and serenest elevations yet opened to the human mind."
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SUBJECT THE PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL SAVIOUR.
IsaiahAs Written:Isaih 9-6-

For unto us a child is born, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; his name shall be called Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Wonderful,

CounselorAs Written:Counsellor

(stet) Mighty God

The Everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9. 6.

There is nothing recorded of Jesus' infancy, to distinguish this child from any other that ever was born.

He passed through the twilight of infancy as helpless and dependent as other children; he must have slept, wakened, and wept on his mother's bosom as all children do.

He unfolded, and was nourished, under the same laws of mortal mind which govern infant life now.

there is nothing recorded of

This then was not a divinity coming through the clouds into human life full-orbed, and triumphing with the undiminished strength of a heavenly nature over the conditions of mortals.

If Jesus was a divine person, he was a divine child, but childhood meant latent power, undeveloped faculty, unripe character -- a cluster of germs, a branch full of unblossomed buds. A mere seedling of manhood.

There was no circle of lightEditorial Note: halo about his head (except his mother's arms) fondly as artists have loved to paint it.

But for the after-record of him in the Scriptures, we should have no reason to suppose that this child differed in any respect from ordinary children.

Yet he was the Son of God, the Divine idea that mortal belief could take in only through its own modes of seeing and believingAs Written:beleiving.

But regarding a life over which every mortal hangs with an interest so absorbing it is impossible to restrain the imagination, nor need this be mischievous.

This child grew to manhood. Ate, drank, labored, was weary, mingled with mortals. None were less prepared to see him take a prominent part in history than the people who had known him from infancy. They said whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works. Is not this the carpenters son?Matt 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

This is not the language of admiring neighbors, who had thought the boy a prodigy, nothing could be more unnatural than to suppose that the personal man was a full and perfect being -- a being cleft from the almighty as Minerva was fabled to have come from the head of Jupiter.

Subject The Personal and Impersonal Jesus Text -- IsaiahAs Written:Isaih 9. 6. For unto us etcIsa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(In the senses Jesus was the Son of Man, in Science he was the Son of God. It was his approximation to this state of being that made him the Christ Jesus, the Godlike, the anointed. The prophet prophesied of the appearing of this dual nature as both human and divine the personal and impersonal saviour)

Isaiah 9. 6.

(The record of Jesus as a public benefactor, or personal saviour, commenced at 30 years of age; owing in part, perhaps, to the Jewish law -- that no one should preach or teach in public under that age.

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.Also, it is natural to conclude, that, at this juncture, he was endued especially with the Holy Spirit for he was given the new name, Messiah -- or Christ Jesus -- the God anointed. Even as Jacob was called Israel, and Saul, Paul, at times of especial enlightenment.

The 3rd event of this eventful period -- a period of such spiritual magnitude to mankind, was the advent of Christian Science.

29 SUBJECT

24 THE E PERSONAL

13 AND IMPERSONAL SAVIOUR

From this dazzling God-crowned summit the Nazarene stepped suddenly before the people; and schools of philosophy, gnostic, epicurian, stoic. He must stem these rising angry elements and walk serenely over their fretted, foaming billows.

Here the cross became the central emblem of Christ Jesus' history. While the central point of his messianic mission, was teaching and healing. Clad with divine might he was ready to be offered and this hour drew nigh. One taint of worldliness, human pride, or self-will, by demoralizing his motives would have dethroned his power. To carry out his holy purpose he must be pure and oblivious of self.

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.Of the lineage of David like him he went forth simple as the shepherd boy to disarm the Goliath. Panoplied with the strength of an exalted a divine hope, faith and understanding, He conquered the three in one of error -- the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Three years he went about doing good; he had been 30 years preparing to heal and teach his 3 years mission was a marvel of glory Its chaplet a dishonoredAs Written:dishonered grave. He who dated time, the Christian era, and spanned eternity, was the meekest man on earth. He humble homes to itching ears and dull disciples the Word of God, that has ripened into interpretation by Science His words were articulated in a decaying language, and committed to the providence of God. In no one thing seemed he less human and more divine, than his unfaltering faith in the immortality of Truth .

ReferringAs Written:Refering to this he said; “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. . And they have not, they still live, and are to today the basis of liberty, the cement of society, the hope of the race. We have not space to detail a little of what he said and did, the four Gospels do this. Only three years a personal saviour, what did he not accomplish? His was a sublime success, an everlasting victory .

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.After the personal man was crucified is the impersonal saviour or divine idea which leadeth into all truth must come as Christian Science or impersonal healing. This idea or esse of being is forever about the Father's business, heralding the principle of health, holiness and immortality. This Principle interprets the impersonal idea that represents the Son of God .

Here the the impersonal and personal are distinguished Thus one is the idea of that represents Good and the other is a belief of goodness The Science of Truth that reappears in the ripeness of time, will reappear until it is understood, acknowledged and comprehended. To in the vision of the and wise men this spiritual idea appeared as a babe at first it seemed very small to mortals (over) But to the prophet from the mount of revelation, was born a son a son a wonder and eternal power. IsaiahAs Written:Isaih said "His name shall be called Wonderful The mighty Counsellor the everlasting Father the Prince of peace"Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. . As the wise men grew in the understanding of this spiritual ideal it grew in favor with them and (over) and their highest human concept of the man Jesus portrayed him as the only son of God the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truthJohn 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

A10385A
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Reproduced from the archive of The Mary Baker Eddy Library
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Copied document link to clipboard.

SUBJECT THE PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL SAVIOUR.
IsaihCorrected:Isaiah 9-6-

For unto us a child is born, a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; his name shall be called Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Wonderful,

CounsellorCorrected:Counselor

(stet) The Mighty God

The Everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9. 6.

There is nothing recorded of Jesus' infancy, to distinguish this child from any other that ever was born.

He It passed through the twilight of infancy as helpless and dependent as other children; and he he must have slept, or wakened, and wept on his mother's bosom as all children do.

He unfolded, and was nourished, under the same laws of mortal mind which govern infant life now.

there is nothing recorded of

This then was not a divinity coming through the clouds into human life fullorbed full-orbed, and triumphing with the undiminished strength of a heavenly nature over the conditions of mortals.

If this Jesus was a divine person, he was a divine child,and but childhood meant latent power, undeveloped faculty, unripe character -- a cluster of germs, a branch full of unblossomed buds. A mere seedling of manhood.

There was no circle of lightEditorial Note: halo about his head (except his mother's arms) fondly as artists have loved to paint it.

But for the after-record of him in the Scriptures, we should have no reason to suppose that this child differed in any respect from ordinary children.

Yet he was the Son of God, the Divine idea that mortal belief could take in only through their [?] Unclear or illegible  its own modes of seeing and beleivingCorrected:believing.

But regarding a life over which every mortal hangs with an interest so absorbing it is important impossible to restrain the imagination, nor need this be mischievous.

This child grew to manhood. Ate, drank, labored, was weary, mingled with men mortals. None were less prepared to see him take a prominent part in history than the people who had known him from infancy. They said whence hath this man this wisdom and these mighty works. Is not this the carpenters son?Matt 13:55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

This is not the language of admiring neighbors, who had thought the boy a prodigy, nothing could be more unnatural than to suppose that the personal man was a full and perfect being seen by the mortal and material senses -- a being cleft from the almighty as Minerva was fa fabled to have come from the head of Jupiter.

Subject The Personal and Impersonal Jesus Text -- IsaihCorrected:Isaiah 9. 6. For unto us etcIsa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

(In the senses Jesus was the Son of Man, in Science he was the Son of God. And It was his approximation to this state of being that made him the Christ Jesus, the Godlike, the anointed. The prophet prophesied of the appearing of this dual nature as both human and divine the personal and impersonal saviour)

SUBJECT THE PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL SAVIOUR.

We have taken our text from IsaihCorrected:Isaiah 9-6

“For unto us a child is born, a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: his name shall be called Wonderful, CounsellorCorrected:Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father Prince of Peace.”Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9. 6.

(The only record of Jesus as a public benefactor, or personal saviour, commenced at 30 years of age; owing in part, perhaps, to the Jewish law -- that no one should preach or teach in public under that age.

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.Also, it is natural to conclude, that, at this juncture, he was endued endued especially with the Holy Spirit for he was given the new name, Messiah -- or Christ Jesus -- the God anointed. as Even as Jacob was called Israel, and Saul, Paul, at times of especial enlightenment.

The 3rd event of this eventful period -- a period of such spiritual magnitude to mankind, was the advent of Christian Science.

29 SUBJECT

24 THE E PERSONAL

13 AND IMPERSONAL SAVIOUR

From this dazzling God-crowned summit of human experience the Nazarene stepped suddenly before the people; the pulpit and faculty. and schools of philosophy, gnostic, epicurian, stoic. He must to stem these rising angry tides elements and to walk serenely over their fretted, foaming lashing billows. [?] Unclear or illegible 

Here the cross became the central emblem of Christ Jesus' history. And While the central point of his messianic mission, was teaching and healing. Clad in human meekness and Clad with divine might he was ready to be offered and this hour drew nigh. One taint of worldliness, of human pride, or self-will, by demoralizing his motives would have dethroned his power. [?] Unclear or illegible  To be carryied out his holy purpose he must be pure and oblivious of self.

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.Of the lineage of David like him he went forth simple as the shepherd boy to disarm the Goliath. And Panoplied with the strength of an exalted a divine hope, faith and understanding, Truth's trinity He conquered the three in one of error -- the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Three years he went about doing good; he had been 30 years preparing to heal and teach but his 3 years mission was a marvel of glory And its Its chaplet a dishoneredCorrected:dishonored grave. He who dated time, the Christian era, and spanned eternity, was the meekest man on earth. He healed and taught by the way side in humble homes to itching ears and dull disciples the science Word of God, and man the divine Principle or being and its divine idea that has ripened into interpretation by Science His words were articulated in a decaying language, and committed to the providence of God. In no one thing seemed he less human and more divine, than in his unfaltering faith in the immortality of Truth what he taught.

ReferingCorrected:Referring to it this he said; “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away”Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Mark 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. . And they have not, they still live, and are to today the basis of liberty, the cement of society, the hope and salvation of the race. [?] Unclear or illegible  We have not space to detail a little of what he said and did, the four Gospels do this. Only three years a personal saviour, what did he not accomplish? His was for mortals a sublime success, an everlasting victory over for yet he speaketh.

[*]Archival Note: This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.After the personal man was crucified is the impersonal saviour or divine idea of God that which leadeth into all truth appears in no higher form must come as Christian Science and or impersonal healing. This idea is the or esse of harmonious being and is forever about the Father's business, demonstrating the divine heralding the principle of health, holiness and immortality. This Principle interprets time and eternity the impersonal idea that represents and the Son of God is discovered with a new name Christian Science.

Here the unity of the impersonal idea with the and personal Jesus is the unity are distinguished Thus one is the idea of that represents Good and the other is a belief of goodness and good; it is that aroma The Science of Truth that will reappearss only in the ripeness of time, and will reappears until it is understood, acknowledged entertained and comprehended. To in the vision of the prophet this sp and wise men this spiritual idea is first likened to a child it looks so appeared as a babe at first it seemed very small to mortals (over) But to the prophet from the mount of revelation, was born a son a son a wonder and eternal power. IsaihCorrected:Isaiah said "His name shall be called Wonderful The mighty Counsellor the everlasting Father the Prince of peace"Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. . As the wise men grew in the understanding of this spiritual ideal it grew in favor with them and (over) and their highest human concept of the man Jesus portrayed him as the only son of God the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truthJohn 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 
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halo This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits. This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits. This paragraph contains numerous erasures and insertions by Mary Baker Eddy. Edits are transcribed according to what appear to be final edits.