It always did seem to me that Truth should be self-evident, or at least
susceptible of unmistakable proof,—which all religions seemed to lack, at
least in so far as I had known them. I now remember that Jesus furnished
unmistakable proofs of the truth of his teachings, by his manifestations
of the power of Mind, or, as some might call it, Spirit; which power he
plainly taught would be acquired by those who believed in the Principle
which he taught, and which manifestations would follow as signs that an
understanding of his philosophy had been reached. It does seem to me, that
where the signs do not follow professing Christians which Christ said
should follow them, there must be something wrong, either in his teachings
or their understanding of them; and to say the least, the foundations of
their faith require a careful re-examination, with a view to harmonizing
them with the plain teachings of the Christ in whose footsteps they
profess to follow.
I never could understand how God could be ever-present as a personal
Being, but I think I can and do understand how divine Principle can
pervade every thing and place.
I never could understand how heaven could be a place with gorgeous
fittings, but I think I can and do understand how it might be a spiritual
(or if you please mental) condition. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God
cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo
there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
“Knowledge (or understanding) is power.” Since adopting the views of life
as set forth in “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” I have
seen proofs of what can be accomplished through a knowledge of the truth,
which to my mind amount to demonstrations, and which no longer seem
incredible, but which I do not ask another to accept upon my statements.
Every one must see or feel for himself in order to be convinced; but I am
satisfied that any who will lay aside their preconceived notions, and deal
honestly with themselves and the light they have, will come to a knowledge
of the truth as illustrated in the teachings and life of Jesus Christ;
that is, that Mind, or Soul, or whatever you may be pleased to call it, is
the real Ego, or self, and that mortal mind with its body is the unreal
and vanishing, and eventually goes back to its native nothingness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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