•*9im:<».> •**[•***< • pjawawi m? s r " " ! I: TRUTH'Ah© ERROR ':' .--(i^'M ^ Scrtpture Teri-^cfi 27:13-26.^*''^ k-i I L . A ? J*" ** •0Q* « « "•* «*»>, 4r-emT B W ^ end obtained their purpoae, t W « » i i _ i . ^ * . ' U u ' *"**

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Crete, cleee in •hoM. - 14. Bat after DO long tine there beat d m from "tuous wind, which is called Euracaulo:

15. And whoa the ship was caught, tad could aot fees the ; wiad, ere gore way to it, and were driven. r 16. And running under the lee of a •mall island called Cauda, ,wa were able, with difficulty, to secure the boat: 1 .17. And when they hid hoisted it up, they used helps, ander-[girdiag the ship; sad, fearing lest they should be cast' upon the Syrtis, ithey lowered the gear, end so were driven. U •• 18. And es we labored exceedingly with the rtotsa. the next day" hhey began to throw die freight overboard; i j 19. And the third day they cast out with their! own hands the ttackling of the slop. •

20. And when neither sun nor stars shone upon us for assay days, and no mall tempest Lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was now taken away. -

21. And when they had been long without food, then Paul -stood forth in the midst of them, and said. Sirs, ye should hare heark-ened unto me, and aot hare sot sail from Crete, and have gotten this injury and low.

, 22. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer.; for there shall be no low of life among you, but only of the ship.

23. For there stood by me this night an angel of the Cod whose I am, whom also I serve.

24. Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must stand before Carsar: and: lo, God hatb granted thee all them that sail with thee.

25. Wherefore, sir, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even so es it hath been spoken unto me.

26. But we must be cast upon a certain island;

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Paul seems to have met with unusually hard experi-r ences after his appeal to Caesar, having claimed the protec-

tion of the law of man because of his Roman citizenship. If the idea gets into the mind that we can demonstrate through taking advantage of the law of man, and we appeal to that law, and give it the balance of power, we shall have to work out our problem upon a material basis, with spiritual force* secondary. This does not imply that we shall not have die help of die Spirit, but that the higher law will be limited in its movement in the mind, because the dominant ideas there prevailing are material. > '

Paul and Silas were released from prison on a former occasion by the angel of the Lord, and Peter had a similar experience. The Bible gives many examples, of die inter-position of the power of the Lord to set aside material bonds, when it is invoked. But it must be invoked. The law does not work unless man works it, or with his mind touches the button that sets going the machinery that does the work. If we lose faith in the higher law, or decide that it is expedient toe. adopt die lower, we get results according to die ability of die method under which we have placed ourselves.

Beware how you put yourself in the hands of the mortal law. Tt is hanuwml on em** oiriV ', Th» t o o .

ty»-r nTpraverbad, Paul seemed* in peril of death andj

.appealed to die law of Cesser for protection. He in then Way escaped die Jews, but put himself in a bondage that lasted for years, with all the vicissitudes that acconnymyi that mortal way. Had he held to the protection of God. .tie higher law would certainly have saved him and set him free

However, it is quite common for men to work out their spiritual ongoing in just this way, and we are shown in these lessons how we do get die help of the Lord, whatever our limitations may he. Paul really represents our highest con-cept of Truth sailing 'round in the mind, headed for Rome, the very center of intellectual domain. In all the hard ex-periences diet come to us when we have put ourselves under die mortal law, we discern or are warned how to avoid them, but Because we are in bonds to that law we cannot dictate—the environment is dominant in our conduct Paul advised that die journey be delayed at Fairhavens until spring, but his advice was ignored and a series of hard ex-periences followed, '

The storm and shipwreck ait typical of the stormy; times we have in our thought world and die suffering it, wings to the body in a case of sickness. There are seasons; when the hurricane of mortal thought sweeps down upon our-ship and threatens to sink it with all on board But Jesus,; me / Am power in every one, comes to the rescue, and what we know of the law is applied Eating is typical of affirm-big; mat is, appropriating. When Truth encourages as to eat we understand that we are to affirm the highest spiritoaj words we know. When we take this "bread" substance of ife, and "give thanks unto God in presence of all, and begin In eat," there is encouragement and good cheer throughout the whole man. Then the processes of nature start up, die »ld idea of material substance is denied elimination begins, the "wheat is thrown into die sea." We head for the shore, ifter letting go die anchors that we had thrown out in the confusion of" the stormy fever, and find ourselves once more SB dry land But the old ship, or fonneT_lx>dv-cojiseao»«w ness, goes to piecesT"! here is a new and purer arrangement-of the cell life in the organism after we have triumphed over error's storm—a new body is made from the Universal ;Substancc ;—.._«*!_ :.••—-•• *-*- "•'

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W - "'"•• ' ' " S U N D A Y . D E C E M B E R 6 . 1 9 2 5 . ' ' " ' : - > J . r & C ; ' - ; " ' • . , v I t - ; ' . ' ' • • ; - - > Y " - • ' ; ' ' ' " f ; ^ %

fc , .., . ^ -_ ._ ! ^ . ~ lne sailors seeking to flee represents man s fear \" - Acts 27:30-44 ." ---•' • that everything is going to rack and ruin, and his feeling

\ | 30. And as the sailors were seeking to flee out of thei * a t h e *»&* ?* well give up instead of making an ; ship, and had lowered the boat into the sea, under color as] effort to save himself. ":

| though they would lay out anchors from the foreship. J Paul told w c caliun(m ana> the soldiers. "Except (••. it. Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, fix-1

jL i •. • .1 1... . . 1 _ J » n -1 .«.-• • r cept these abide in the ship, ye Cannot be saved * i W e J * ^ e OT " * * m p * ?""** 6 < f ^ ^ " V

32. Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of die bor..! I n *?«• $ t o r m a n d s t r e s s o f a d v e r e e thoughts we should and let her fall off. hold fast with all our might to the protective powers of

33. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought] the mind, represented by the centurion and the soldiers. -A e m ^ to tol«some foodL sayiruj.Onu day h the fourteen^ what h represenied L Paars beseeching aU his' day that ye wait and continue fasting, having taken nothing.* . . , , . , . . . . . . . . .

34. Wherefore I beseech you to take some food: for' Mmat* to take food, saymg. for this is for your [ this is for your safety: for there shall not a hair perish from' safety: for there shall not a hair perish from the head of . the head of any of you. f any of you" ? ' , 3 5 * /*? **?; "f h a d s a , d d u S l a n d h ? d t a k ? b.read* Taking food is symbolical of the amrmative state

he gave thanb to God m the presence of all; and he brake o f ^ y ^ i n f e r e n c e hom A e t e x t j , ^ & h a d it, and began to eat . . . . . . . . . . , . . .

» 36. Then were they all of good cheer, and themselves! b e e n f a s u n B - 4"* »• reframmg from makmg positive, also took food. 1 definite statements of safety. Paul, representing the

37. And we were in all in the ship two hundred three-' power of the word, affirmed: "for there shall not a hair score and sixteen souls. : ^perish from the head of any of you." 1

38. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened! , ,, . . • . • • - • .. ,• ~1 the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. / s m e r c a metaphysical significance m the mention \

39. And when it was day, they knew not the land:] °f me number of people (276) on board the ship? j but they perceived a certain bay with a beach, and they.] Mathematical accuracy, law, and order prevail in. took counsel whether they could chive the ship upon it. 1 Spirit Nothing is too great or too small for spiritual •

40 And casting off the anchors, they left them in the j r e c o g n it ion. Jesus said: "The very hairs of your head sea, at the same tune loosing the bands of the rudders; and' „ , , „ hoisting up the foresail to the wind; they made for the beach, j a r e a U numbered.

| 41 . But lighting upon a place where two seas met they What is the meaning of the statement, "And when ran the vessel aground; and the foreship struck and re-j it mas day, they knew not the land"? •-"- ,

(~\ mailed immoveable, but the sternSbegan to break up by thej D a y represents a certain degree of light or under^ violence of the waves. ; ,. , . , _ . . . , . .. ,

42. And the soldiers' counsel was to kilLthe prisoner..•• s t a n d m * w h i d l « J a b b s b « o n e « a n e w * a " <* <**• ! lest any of them should swim out and escape. sciousness with which he is not familiar. j I 43. But the centurion, desiring to save Paul, stayed What is represented by casting off the anchors and ; them from their purpose; and commanded that they who: leavmg mem „, A c loosenmg the bands of the rud-

could swim should cast themselves overboard, and get first: , , . ,. ,, , ., . ,» . . , , . _ to the land- T * "Oisung u 0 w e f^esad to the wmd, and makmg

> 44. And the rest some on planks, and some on otherf >0T me beach? things from the ship. And so it came to pass, that they all' One who in time of stress and storm fulfills the law escaped safe to the land. -*• , through affirmation and denial and begins to see his way

$ — _ . - __ / ^__ *— _ - - | o u t 0f trouble, should deny everything that anchors him *~ A storm overtook Paul and his companions at sea. •.. , , • J L U I , I J , - 1 „ , , - , . , , . . . . , 7 to the old, and should loose every mental and material What does that storm represent m human consciousness? * _ _ . . , ,."' , . , , , „ __ . . . 1 r> 1 T L- • bond. 1 nis course will land him high and dry. H e The storm which overtook Paul and his companions: . . . . . . . . , i .n , . ,.), J- . j may lose some of his worldly possessions, but he will represents a brain storm, which, according to modern; / . , , , , , . . . . r , , . . , , , , ,, » gam marvelous power and be able to do miracles, as did psychology, us the result of complex and apparently un-j *

solvable* problems in one's life. | i __-_ What is represented by the sailors' seeking to flee I

out of the ship?

**-'-• ---s-»"-v- •-••'•;- •"",'• V»- -•.-;.•.- : -V-V •;.•<" •'•-—.-'.-••..-,.

T/ •••* :;-\. b.:-:.". ... "'-'" Acts 27:13-26 •% -•- - ^

(See April *!» 1915 for scripture)

TJTERPRE TATIOH

The illuminated Christian* who "dwells in the , secret place of the Most High," dwells safely* with a guarantee of immunity from everything that assails; others* who know not Ged as their sure defense. But unless one finds the secret understanding of that "secret place*" the manifestations of evil from an unfriendly en-vironment may threaten and disturb him* some-times even more than the man of the world. For the world knows not your joys* therefore they think you are peculiar and fanatical*

Paul*a course is an illustration of the course of action of most Christians in the ordeal of trial and persecution* in that he "appealed unto Caesar." Most men court the favor and approbation of men—they want to be justified "before Caesar." But if you are fully consecrated to the Spirit* and consciously have the continued guidance of the Spirit, what is the worlds idea to you, who

( N have "the mind of Christ? .̂.' You must not look to Caesar for justification.

"Thou shalt keep him in perfect peaoe* whose mind is stayed on Thee." The Spirit will surely take care of you in any contingency. You have nothing to fear: for you have learned that "there is no evil." To "appeal unto Caesar" is to forget this basic doctrine of your faith. You* who are "in the world but not of it," should not court its favor and approbation. Such a course is inconsistent with your high calling and trust.

Paul's tempestuous voyage and shipwreck illus-trate the stormy and turbulent experience one has who "appeals* to the judgemnt of this world relying on his Roman citizenship to defend him more than his heavenly citizenship. Appealing to Spirit, whose higher law annuls the law of mortal man* you escape by the higher law of the Spirit. '

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But by appealing to the world you place yourself -̂̂ within its law. "Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? (. ) Unto Caesar shalt thou go,"—and you will re- J oeive the world's stormy experiences, made ....-.:.... J doubly stormy by the world's hatred of things Spiritual. "In the world ye shall have trlbula-tlon." . |

Inspiration has not given us this lesson in Paul's life, as a typical example that we should follow: but rather an example to be shunned—a type representing a very large class. It is a I lesson true t;o life. j

Paul had not fully "committed his way unto the Lord." In "going up to Jerusalem" he disobeyed the Spirit. In assuming the role of a Bazarits as a matter of policy, he was not trusting the Lord fully; and when he "appealed unto Caesar," he was not trusting Spirit at all. His mis-takes and consequent stormy experiences stand before us in historical allegory as a perpetual warning that we may escape his severe experiences by shunning his course. "But God is able to make all grace abound," and to overrule all things for good, so that hard and painful ex-periences may be but stepping stones to higher f"~* attainment. So it was-wi-th-him;-in imprisonment • v*> he learned meekness and sublime trust, and grew in grace and Spiritual understanding.

13. Having "appealed unto Caesar" at first you start out beautifully—"the south wind blows softly"—you "suppose you have attained your purpose."

14. But, since you have committed your cause to the law of mortal thought, the merciless "euroclydon" is liable to swoop down on you any moment. For you have forfeited the Divine protection by "appealing unto Caesar." He who dwells in the Spiritual consciousness dwells safely,—is not liable to accidents, nor imprisonments.

16. But having"appealed unto Caesar." you are threatened with the "lee shore" of "Clauda"

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on the one hand. (3)

17. And the, quicksands of"Syrtis"on the other* -/ For self-preservation you seen to be"steering between the rook, Soylla and the whirlpool, Charybdis."!

18. How ther disobedient soul is tempest-tossed on the sea of aortal thought, while he looks unto Caesar for justice; until you loose your valuable oargo of Spiritual riches, the consciousness of abundant GoodI

19. And you are stripped of all external means of carrying out your ideal

20* And in ;the stormy darkness of despair all hope is taken awayl

21, "After long abstinence" --Fasting if enforced, denotes denials. By your denial of hopelessness you are able to "stand forth in the midst," and make your strong affirmation of hope and cheer.

22-25. through the enlightening visions of truth you affirm;hope and cheer and the indestructi-bility of life. You also affirm the destruction of the false reasoning that oarries you to Caesar. For only after this "ship of Alexandria" (Egypt) is destroyed, can you save "all them that are with you.":

26. This leaves you stranded "on a certain island" of̂ unreclaimed thought in the broad sea of mortal thought.

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(UHITY magazine )