Chapter 1. Prayer

“early childhood”

In “Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Authority” Robert Peel writes: “The first chapter, ‘Prayer,’ with its emphasis on ‘the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace,’ correlates in spirit and intent with [Mary Baker Eddy’s] autobiographical statement:  ‘From early childhood I was impelled, by a hunger and thirst after divine things, – a desire for something higher and better than matter, and apart from it, – to seek diligently for the knowledge of God as the one great and everpresent relief from human woe.’ Ret. p 31.”

Below are A FEW examples of some of the essential points found in this chapter followed by supporting passages from the Bible. Obviously the rest of the chapter “Prayer,” can be examined in the same way.

S&H 1:1 “The prayer that reforms the sinner and heals the sick is an absolute faith that all things are possible
to God,”

Jas. 5:15 “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; …”
Ps. 103:3 “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;”
Mark 9:23 “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
Matt. 17:29 “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Jas. 5:16  “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Matt. 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

S&H 8:28 “We should examine ourselves and learn what is the affection and purpose of the heart, for in this way only can we learn what we honestly are.”

I Cor.11:28 “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Matt. 22:37 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Luke 9:55  “But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.”
Prov. 22:7 “…as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
Gal. 6:3 “… if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
Ps. 77:6  “I commune with mine own heart; and my spirit made diligent search…”
my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

 

S&H 14:25 “Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth. This understanding casts out error and heals the sick, and with it you can speak ‘as one having authority.’ “

Gen. 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…”
Matt. 7:28,29  “The people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
Matt. 16:17 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Luke 4:32 “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.”
Luke 4:41 “And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
John 3:1 “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, … The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
Luke 4:36 “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Luke 9:1 “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.”

S&H 16: 2 “The highest prayer is not one of faith merely; it is demonstration. Such prayer heals sickness, and must destroy sin and death.”

1 Cor. 2:4 “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”
Luke 10:25-37  “… a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him… He said unto him, What is written in the law?…  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and … soul, and … strength, and … mind; and thy neighbour as thyself… And he said unto him… this do, and thou shalt live.  …A certain man went down … and fell among thieves,… Which now … thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? … He that shewed mercy on him. … Go, and do thou likewise.”
forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Jas. 2:20 “…faith without works is dead” 

 

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