IN the first chapter of Genesis it is recorded that God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." The word "dominion" means sovereign authority; the power of ruling, governing, controlling; the right of absolute possession and use. Dominion is opposed to servitude, slavery, submission. Thus we see that to spiritual man, made in the likeness of God, was given power to rule, control, possess, and use all lesser ideas which exist in the spiritual universe, whether these forms of thought appear as the fowl of the air —spiritual aspirations soaring to the heights of Truth; as the fish of the sea—beautiful ideas which may be drawn out of the depths of Love's purity: or even as the tiny, humble, creeping thing, patiently and busily manifesting its proper reflected activity. Over all the lesser creation God's man has loving, wise, and just dominion.
In the true creation, food in abundance is given to man, as to all creatures. Every fruitful idea capable of reproducing itself ad infinitum is given for man's sustenance and pleasure. As God's ideas are spiritual, none of them are destroyed or even injured by being partaken of; for there is no death or impairment in the spiritual universe, wherein all ideas exist for service and are obedient to God. Man was not made to till the soil, but to possess the earth and to replenish it. To replenish means to furnish anew, to stock with abundance. Thus, it is not by laborious toil, but by reflection and intelligent recognition of God's perfect spiritual ideas, that man is fruitful, replenishing the earth.
As one understands the real man's dominion, one may prove that he is not in subjection to weather, to the seasons, or to adverse conditions; that one need not longingly await opportunity, since as God's child he lives in the eternal now, at the source of all supply and dominion, and at the standpoint of opportunity. In proportion as man in God's image is recognized and reflected by ascending thought, spiritual dominion is manifested to human sense in better health, more harmonious circumstances, larger opportunities of service; and in proportion as understanding increases, is greater dominion realized and expressed, individually and collectively.
