Dominion JENNIE B. BAIRD          Before coming into Christian Science, the word dominion had no meaning to us, although we had read and re-read in Genesis, that man was given "dominion over all the earth."          We, of all people, can rejoice that we are being led out of the wilderness. The sickness and discords that befell us, because of our belief in a power apart from God, are disappearing, and through this precious understanding given to us in "Science and Health," we are helping to destroy these illusions for others.          Failing to find our prayers answered in the old thought, we were forced to accept one of two conclusions, viz., that God did not hear them, or hearing them, He refused to answer them, and He seemed afar off, instead of an "everpresent help in trouble."          We can say to the multitudes today what the Master said nineteen centuries ago — "Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship." (John 4: 22.)          We can say with joyfulness we are no longer ignorant of our heavenly Father; we have been awakened from the false sense of life in matter, and can exercise to some extent that dominion given man in the beginning, and prove God's allness.          The world at large thinks it is presumption on our part to claim the healing power that Jesus demonstrated, but that is only because they misunderstand his life-mission. Mortals have believed for so long that all that was necessary for them to do was to believe and be saved, it is not strange that they rebel somewhat when told that every mortal must work out this life problem for himself.          How much more beautiful it is to think of Jesus as a Way-shower, — showing mortals how to demonstrate over all evil, — a man having complete dominion over matter.          Jesus was a transparency for Truth and Love because of his pure consciousness, and because of that purity he always reflected the divine Light, which dispelled the phantoms, sickness, sin, and death.          The magnitude of our work as Christian Scientist's grows upon us, — every day Truth demands more of us.          We find Principle constantly correcting us, when our thoughts begin to wander in the wrong channel.          Those who are demonstrating Christian Science are workers in God's vineyard, — sowing seeds of Life, Truth, and Love, and will reap the fruits of life eternal.          Isaiah said, (26: 13) "O Lord our God, other lords besides thee have had dominion over us."          When Truth dawns upon consciousness we are awakened to see what slaves we have been to matter, laws of hygiene, etc.; and we begin to learn that we can break every physical law, if we obey God's laws, and live in accordance with divine Principle. But as we go farther on in our journey, we have greater battles. Truth has uncovered our sins to us; pride, envy, selfishness, and every claim of evil begins to assert itself, and tries to bring us again into bondage.          But if faithful soldiers, we face our enemies, cast them out, knowing they have no place in God, and therefore cannot hold dominion over us.          So we find step by step we are forced out of matter, and find our health, happiness, and peace in God.   "Dominion" by Jennie B. Baird The Christian Science Journal, April, 1894

 

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