"Why, of course, Carol; Israel typifies the Christian world, and God’s
ministers are His shepherds."
"Yes, Uncle, that was what I thought. Is God not angry now with the
shepherds? I often read the 34th chapter of Ezekiel. God was very
angry with the shepherds of that time. He said, ’Woe be to the
shepherds, because they had not healed that which was sick, nor
strengthened that which was diseased, nor bound up that which was
broken, neither had they sought out that which was lost.’"
"There have been times in history, Carol, when God’s ministers--His
shepherds--have been able to heal the sick, but for generations the
healing power has been withheld.
"Yes, Uncle, I understand that. For many centuries before Jesus came
the healing power had been lost. He brought it back, and taught his
disciples how to heal the sick. Then at the end of only three centuries
it was lost; and again after many centuries God has sent a messenger to
bring it back, but not everyone will listen to the message."
The boy spoke reflectively, as one thinking aloud, not addressing either
his uncle or his aunt.
"Raymond," said Mrs. Mandeville quickly (she noted the growing anger on
the Rector’s face), "Carol has a way of thinking about things he reads
in the Bible. His thoughts have often helped me. He does not mean
to--to reproach you. Will you tell me, dear Raymond, have you ever read
this book which you condemn so strongly?"
"I have not read it, Emmeline. One does not need to read Mrs. Eddy’s
books to condemn them. The press criticisms and extracts I have read
were quite enough for me. Since Carol’s father wished him to have a
copy of the book, I cannot keep it from him. Otherwise I should, most
certainly. I can only pray that he may ultimately see the error of its
teaching."
"The fruit is so good," Mrs. Mandeville said softly. "I can only judge
by that, until I have studied the book myself, which I intend to do. I
think, Carol, darling, you must run back to the school-room now, or you
will be late for lessons. Leave your little book with me. You know it
will be quite safe, and come to me after school."
After the boy had left the room Mrs. Mandeville turned to the Rector.
"Now I want to ask you a question, if I may, Raymond, may I?"
"Why, of course, Emmeline, you know perfectly well I shall be happy to
answer any question you wish to put to me--if I can."
"It is this, Raymond: the Apostle bids us, ’Let this mind be in you
which was also in Christ Jesus.’ How would you define the ’Mind’
simply, that I may grasp it?"
The Rector’s memory went back to a Sunday morning some months before
when he had preached what he considered a very eloquent sermon from that
verse in Philippians. Had his sister forgotten it?
"Do you forget, Emmeline, that I preached from that text not so very
long ago? I took as the keynote of my sermon, humility--the humility of
Jesus. From the context that was undoubtedly what Saint Paul meant."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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