  To the Primary Class of the Massachusetts Metaphysical College, 571 Columbus Avenue, that Assembled Feb. 25, 1889, with an Attendance of Sixty-five Students My students, three picture-stories from the Bible pre- sent themselves to my thought; three of those pictures from which we learn without study. The first is that of [15] Joshua and his band before the walls of Jericho. They went seven times around these walls, the seven times corresponding to the seven days of creation: the six days are to find out the nothingness of matter; the seventh is the day of rest, when it is found that evil is naught [20] and good is all. The second picture is of the disciples met together in an upper chamber; and they were of one mind. Mark, that in the case of Joshua and his band they had all to shout together in order that the walls might fall; and the [25] disciples, too, were of one mind. We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to con- vert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind; as when earth was without form, and Mind spake and form [1] appeared. The third picture-lesson is from Revelation, where, at the opening of the seals, one of the angels presented him- self with balances to weigh the thoughts and actions of [5] men; not angels with wings, but messengers of pure and holy thoughts that say, See thou hurt not the holy things of Truth. You have come to be weighed; and yet, I would not weigh you, nor have you weighed. How is this? Be- [10] cause God does all, and there is nothing in the opposite scale. There are not two,—Mind and matter. We must get rid of that notion. As we commonly think, we imagine all is well if we cast something into the scale of Mind, but we must realize that Mind is not put into the [15] scales with matter; then only are we working on one side and in Science. The students of this Primary class, dismissed the fifth of March, at close of the lecture on the fourth presented their teacher with an elegant album costing fifty dollars, [20] and containing beautiful hand-painted flowers on each page, with their autographs. The presentation was made in a brief address by Mr. D.A. Easton, who in appro- priate language and metaphor expressed his fellow-students' thanks to their teacher. [25] On the morning of the fifth, I met the class to answer some questions before their dismissal, and allude briefly to a topic of great import to the student of Christian Science,—the rocks and sirens in their course, on and by which so many wrecks are made. The doors of animal [30] magnetism open wide for the entrance of error, some- times just at the moment when you are ready to enter on the fruition of your labors, and with laudable ambition [1] are about to chant hymns of victory for triumphs. The doors that this animal element flings open are those of rivalry, jealousy, envy, revenge. It is the self- asserting mortal will-power that you must guard against. [5] But I find also another mental condition of yours that fills me with joy. I learned long ago that the world could neither deprive me of something nor give me anything, and I have now one ambition and one joy. But if one cherishes ambition unwisely, one will be chastened [10] for it. Admiral Coligny, in the time of the French Huguenots, was converted to Protestantism through a stray copy of the Scriptures that fell into his hands. He replied to his wife, who urged him to come out and confess his faith, [15] “It is wise to count the cost of becoming a true Chris- |
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