WITH the coming of Christmas we are led to think upon the significance of the God-idea in other and far different associations than those of the present time. Long centuries ago, hope sped forward into the future to the time when the Messiah should reign, but Immanuel —God with us— was unknown. The material belief in many minds led to a belief in "Gods many," and included an endless array of superstitions, all leading away from the pure monotheism in which alone lay the hope of the world's salvation. These, each and all, involved a concept of God in which good and evil were blended, and in many cases evil was the dominant factor. Even in the darkest days, however, gleams of divinity penetrated material sense, and by mighty words and mightier deeds the prophets proved the ever-presence of Spirit, God. As our text-book says, "Moses advanced a nation to the worship of God in Mind" (Science and Health, p. 20), and in spite of many lapses into idolatry and consequent national retrogression, we see the influence of this higher ideal permeating human thought and finding expression in purer lives as well as in nobler religious teaching.
With the coming of Christ Jesus, —the divine idea in human manifestation. —the whole world was blessed; and upon the darkness of its sin and misery, the day star of Truth rose with both light and healing. Before his day superstition had so obscured the true ideal that men believed they could not only bless but curse in God's name. Thus Balaam essayed to curse the people of Israel "for reward;" and, according to a modern writer of some distinction, this cruel superstition of invoking curses in the name of God has come down from the olden times, and until quite recently existed in some places in Europe. He tells of a chapel in Brittainy where this practice prevailed, also of "cursing stones" in the British islands before which the misfortune and even the death of enemies were prayed for; and that through the fear thus incited, the desired results often followed. It seems, however, that even in the dense darkness of such superstition there were some who maintained that a curse directed against an innocent person would return heavily freighted to oppress the one who sent it out.
But light has come and we can see how far removed from the Christ-teaching is every thought of hatred and revenge. "Bless and curse not" was his command, and how rich is its meaning in the light of Christian Science. Nevertheless, while today men may not be tempted to hie to some mediæval shrine there to imprecate death and doom upon an offending mortal, does not a blighting thought ofttimes go forth, phrased in the ignorant prediction of medical superstition, that death awaits many sufferers who have sought material aid in vain? To such, surely, the words of the Master may apply, "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life."
