N. H.
A letter from Reverend Mary B. G. Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science.
Beloved Pastor and Brethren:
"As face answers to face in waterProv 27:19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. ," and continents clasp hands, so, the oneness of God includes also His presence with those whose hearts unite in the purposes of goodness.
Of this we may be sure, that thoughts winged with peace and love breathe a silent benediction over all the earth, — cooperate with the Divine power, and brood unconsciously o'er the work of His hand.
I, as a corporeal person, am not in your midst. I, as a dictator, arbiter, or ruler, am not present. But I as a mother, whose heart pulsates with every throb of theirs, for the welfare of her children, am present, and rejoice with them that rejoiceRom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. .
May meekness, mercy, and love dwell forever in the hearts of those who worship in this Tabernacle. Then will they receive the heritage that God has prepared for His people, made ready for the pure in affection, the meek in spirit, the worshipper in TruthJohn 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. , the follower of Good.
Thus founded upon the Rock of Christ, when storm and tempest beat against this sure foundationMatt 7:24 ¶Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matt 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matt 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: Matt 7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. , you, safely sheltered in the strong Tower of hope, faith and Love, are God's nestlings, and He will hide you in His feathersPs 91:4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. till the storm has passed. Into this haven of Soul enters no element of earth to cast out angels, to silence the right intuition which guides you safely home.
Exercise more faith in God and His spiritual means and methods, than in man and his material ways and means of establishing the Cause of Christian Science. If right yourself, God will confirm His inheritance. "Be not weary in well doingGal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ". Truth is restful, and Love is triumphant.
When God went forth before His people, they were fed with manna, they marched through the wilderness, they passed through the Red Sea, untouched by the billows. At His command the rock became a fountain, and the land of promise,the green isles of refreshment.Editorial Note: These events are narrated in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. In the words of the Psalmist, — when "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published itPs 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. ".
God is good to IsraelPs 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. — washed in the waters of
MeribahEx 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin,
after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in
Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Ex 17:2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink.
And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? Ex 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and
said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle
with thirst? Ex 17:4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. Ex 17:5 And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel;
and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Ex 17:6 Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite
the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses
did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Ex 17:7 And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not? Num 20:1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people
abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there. Num 20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together
against Moses and against Aaron. Num 20:3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when
our brethren died before the Lord! Num 20:4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? Num 20:5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil
place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink. Num 20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle
of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. Num 20:7 ¶And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Num 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother,
and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and
thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation
and their beasts drink. Num 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. Num 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said
unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? Num 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water
came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. Num 20:12 ¶And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes
of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the
land which I have given them. Num 20:13 This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them. , cleansed of the flesh, -
good to His Israel encompassed not with pride, hatred, self-will, and
self-justification wherein violence covereth men
as a garment, and as captives are they
enchainedArchival Note: These words were struck through and then that
strikethrough was deleted..
Christian Scientists bring forth the fruits of SpiritGal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. , not flesh, and God giveth to no man this "new nameRev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. " who honors Him not by positive proof of trustworthinessAs Written:trust Worthiness. May you be able to say "I have not cleansed my heart in vainPs 73:13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. ".
Edwin ArnoldEditorial Note: Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904) was an English poet and journalist. The lines quoted here by Mary Baker Eddy are from his 1891 narrative poem, The Light of the World or the Great Consummation., to whom I presented a copy of my first edition of Science and HealthEditorial Note: Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, writes:
"Peace on Earth and Good-will!" Souls that are gentle and still Hear the sweet music of this Far-off, infinite, Bliss!
So may the God of peace be and abide with this dear Church.