I have said as much before and still strongly believe that error, animal magnetism, mortal mind, evil--pick the label you prefer--needs to be oppoosed and denied far more energetically and imperatively than many of us seem to. "Press on, press on, ye sons of light,/Untiring in your holy fight,/Still treading each temptation down,/And battling for a brighter crown." (Hymn #290) Christ Jesus saw clearly the need for Satan's eradication and assured his followers that each of them can utilize the talent or talents he has been given. "Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy". (Luke 10: 19) A good pair of metaphysical hobnail boots will be necessary. This isn't delicate tweezer work, like building a ship in a bottle.
Mary Baker Eddy implied that we live in "a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power" (S&H 82: 31-32), and she wrote that over a century ago. Many of us might make greater progress if, instead of tepid, timorous, or torpid opposition to mortal mind, we followed Richard Sherman's (Tom Ewell) advice in "The Seven Year Itch" and came on like gangbusters, not, of course, with Rachmaninoff's "Second Piano Concerto", but with a greater and more vigorous understanding and demonstration of Christian Science. A failure to energetically crush out each temptation as it is encountered may leave the woolgathering treader-down with a discouragingly long--and growing longer--work order. Mrs. Eddy threw down the gauntlet emphatically to her loyal followers on a July 4 a century or so ago (Mis 176-177). How many of them (us?) are still dithering over picking it up and getting on with the challenge she was in fact requiring of them and us.
What worked so well for the Montgolfier brothers over the streets of Paris way back when will not suffice today--not that it ever really did. Satan and his progeny stoke the fires of hell with unrealized good intentions and self-satisfying pronouncements masquerading as heartfelt prayers. "Do not go gentle into that good night,/. . . Rage, rage against the dying of the light." (from "Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas)
Note: Ignes fatui is simply the plural of ignis fatuus, will-o'-the-wisp, something that misleads or deludes; an illusion.
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19 comments:
I don't often comment on your blog, but since this particular essay had some helpful points in it for me, wanted to leave a thank you!
I like this blog post a lot, seems to me to have more metaphysical substance to it somehow. Not that what you write is not always creatively done, and worth reading.
Good for you, reminding your viewers of Mrs. Eddy's article in Prose Works, given on July 4. It's unequivocal/rousing--worth taking a look at, for all of us.
Evening Christian.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this, and intend to read through it a few more times to see how you do it.
Love the Bible verse you included, from Christ Jesus! So reassuring for we his followers.
Thanks, good job.
I could not agree with you more that evil/mortal mind/Satan - call it what you will -- certainly needs to be put down much more aggressively and seriously than I've been doing, for one. And I'm sure I have a lot of company.
But thank God we have the tools to do this with!
Dear Blogger,
I like the way you often include literary allusions in your essays. And of course, first and foremost, anything our great Master said, and the inspired words of our dear Leader.
That article you mentioned that Mrs. Eddy wrote which appears in "Miscellaneous Writings" is so invigorating to me, such a call to action for us who love the Cause. I'd like to quote some of it here --- "Never was there a more solemn and imperious call than God makes to us all, right here, for fervent devotion and an absolute consecration to the greatest and holiest of all causes. The hour is come."
"Will you doff your lavender-kid zeal, and become real and consecrated warriors? Will you give yourselves wholly and irrevocably to the great work of establishing the truth, the gospel, and the Science which are necessary to the salvation of the world from error, sin, disease, and death? Answer at once and practically, and answer aright!"
Thank you for being the blessing you are, Christian.
Thank you for being such a devoted student of the Bible and of the writings of Mary Baker Eddy. I do feel your website is reaching out further than you may know, Christian, and helping people who like yourself, love this Cause God has given mankind.
Keep up the good work you are doing through your website, Christian. Have been wishing more out here would do likewise, to spread the wonderful news of what our religion can do for any person. (Thinking of starting one myself!)
Enjoy reading your little essays, Christian.
Thanks much,
I have a question for you, Christian, and given that you are obviously a deep thinker, feel your opinion on this will count for something. Do you think Mrs. Eddy would be using the Internet? Would she be blogging?
Let me know sometime. And commenters following mine can weigh in if they wish.
A very interesting question about the Internet. Who can say what our Leader would be doing now? But something she points out in "First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" on page 345 gives me the idea she might well make use of the Internet herself.
An interviewer from the New York Herald asked, "But the pursuit of modern material inventions?" To which she replied, 'Oh, we cannot oppose them. They all tend to newer, finer, more etheralized ways of living. They seek the finer essences. They light the way to the Church of Christ. We use them, we make them our figures of speech. They are preparing the way for us.'"
I'm a first-time visitor to your website (you were recommended to me by someone I respect), and I'll certainly be back. Enjoy seeing such clear writing.
Really like the way you put your thoughts together in such a fresh way. Keep blogging!
A very fine essay, Christian. Your titles do tend to draw one in.
And the rest of the posting isn't bad either!
Good blog post here. Thinking about whether Mrs. Eddy would make use of the Internet, I can't say of course. But like someone has said, it isn't if you have certain things (like money), but how you use something. There is a lot of trash out there in cyberspace and think how it would repulse such a refined lady as our Leader. But all considered, she might well make judicious use of it to reach those millions she spoke of as waiting for Christ, Truth.
Just my musings on this...
It may be that the reason you have such a successful blog is that you are not in this for self, or for advancement,but primarily to be of benefit to Christian Science.
Appreciate all your good work over these past few months I've been reading your blog posts.
Dear Christian,
Have been getting much good from your fine essays over the many past months, and I hope you go right on with your blogging.
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