Restoration ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          The spiritual idea embodied in the word restoration is of tremendous significance, whether we take it in its many Scriptural settings or in the writings of our revered Leader, Mrs. Eddy. It is noteworthy that in both of these it is most frequently used in relation to health; indeed many of the Scriptural promises along this line would be included by Christian Scientists in the assurance of restored health, since health is a very inclusive word in Christian Science. Thus we find the psalmist praying, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation." Without health there can of course be no joy, nor can there be the dominion granted to man by virtue of his likeness to God. This does not mean that those who have not yet realized complete physical health are thereby deprived of joy; far from it. With the first dawn of light in Christian Science, the spiritual idea of health, joy, and dominion is revealed, — the eternal fact which mortal belief can neither give nor take away, even if it requires some time to "work out" this glorious idea on the human plane.          Among the many beautiful passages of Scripture which deal with the idea of restoration, these inspiring words of the twenty-third psalm stand out with great prominence: "He restoreth my soul." This, as understood in Christian Science, means the restoration of the spiritual sense, which knows only harmony, and which knows no fear even in "the valley of the shadow of death." When Soul is understood as the eternal divine Principle governing man, the psalmist's declaration of truth explains the process of healing in Christian Science. If one reads the whole of the psalm with this understanding of Soul in view, he will see how it is possible to say, "I will fear no evil." In Isaiah also we find the promise that God will heal even one who had been wayward. The passage also reads: "I will . . . restore comforts unto him."          In the wonderful story of the transfiguration, as given in Matthew's gospel, Jesus responds to the questioning of his disciples by referring to the prophecy in Malachi, and saying, "Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things;" not some things, be it noted, but "all things." Here we shall be greatly helped by reading Mrs. Eddy's definition of Elias as found on page 585 of Science and Health: "Prophecy; spiritual evidence opposed to material sense; Christian Science, with which can be discerned the spiritual fact of whatever the material senses behold; the basis of immortality." Well might the Master say to his followers: "Elias is come already."          As we read the thrilling record of the Master's healing work, we can see that it was all done on the basis of restoring to humanity the true idea of God and man. Never once did he intimate that his work was in any wise apart from divine law and order, even when he declared that Jairus' daughter was not dead. Those who scorned this declaration firmly believed her to be dead, and doubtless believed, as so many do today, that God's law was responsible for her death; but Christ Jesus restored the maiden to her parents, and restored to her the lost sense of life by knowing that God is the only Life, and that man in His likeness never dies. And so it was at every step of the Master's journey on the plane of material belief, when in place of this belief he restored the spiritual fact to those who would see and hear; and it is for this that Christian Scientists love and reverence his name, his work.          In our day there was truly great need that a prophet should arise who would bring back to the human race the full import of the Master's teaching, and this with the "signs" which he said should "follow them that believe." Too often was it admitted, even while it was deplored, that "faith had fallen asleep." The signs had seemingly failed in mortal experience, because material belief obscured for mankind the spiritual fact from which our Master wrought. Now, however, after a half-century of the demonstration of the "divine Science of man," revealed through Mrs. Eddy, we gladly endorse her declaration on page 242 of Science and Health: "Inspiration restores every part of the Christly garment of righteousness."   "Restoration" by Annie M. Knott, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, August 12, 1916

 

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