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eternal, self-existent. Life is the everlasting I AM, the Being
who was and is and shall be, whom nothing can erase.
(Death no advantage)
If the Principle, rule, and demonstration of man's being
are not in the least understood before what is termed death
overtakes mortals, they will rise no higher spiritually
in the scale of existence on account of
that single experience, but will remain as material as before
the transition, still seeking happiness through a material,
instead of through a spiritual sense of life, and from
selfish and inferior motives. That Life or Mind is finite
and physical or is manifested through brain and nerves,
is false. Hence Truth comes to destroy this error and
its effects, - sickness, sin, and death. To the spiritual
class, relates the Scripture: "On such the second death
hath no power."
(Future purification)
If the change called death destroyed the belief in sin,
sickness, and death, happiness would be won at the moment
of dissolution, and be forever permanent;
but this is not so. Perfection is gained only
by perfection. They who are unrighteous shall be unrighteous
still, until in divine Science Christ, Truth, removes
all ignorance and sin.
(Sin is punished)
The sin and error which possess us at the instant of
death do not cease at that moment, but endure until the
death of these errors. To be wholly spiritual,
man must be sinless, and he becomes thus only
when he reaches perfection. The murderer, though slain
in the act, does not thereby forsake sin. He is no more
spiritual for believing that his body died and learning that
his cruel mind died not. His thoughts are no purer until
evil is disarmed by good. His body is as material as his
mind, and vice versa.
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