n bonds of Christ,
MARY BAKER G. EDDY [5]

BOSTON, MASS., 1889

To First Church Of Christ, Scientist, In Scranton

_Beloved Brethren_:--Space is no separator of hearts. [10]
Spiritually, I am with all who are with Truth, and whose
hearts today are repeating their joy that God dwelleth
in the congregation of the faithful, and loveth the gates
of Zion.

The outlook is cheering. We have already seen the [15]
salvation of many people by means of Christian Science.
Chapels and churches are dotting the entire land. Con-
venient houses and halls can now be obtained wherein, as
whereout, Christian Scientists may worship the Father
"in spirit and in truth," as taught by our great Master. [20]

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" If He
be with us, the wayside is a sanctuary, and the desert a
resting-place peopled with living witnesses of the fact
that "God is Love."

God is universal; confined to no spot, defined by no [25]
dogma, appropriated by no sect. Not more to one than
to all, is God demonstrable as divine Life, Truth, and
Love; and His people are they that reflect Him--that
reflect Love. Again, this infinite Principle, with its uni-
versal manifestation, is all that really is or can be; [30]
hence God is our Shepherd. He guards, guides, feeds,

[Page 151.]

and folds the sheep of His pasture; and their ears are [1]
attuned to His call. In the words of the loving disciple,
"My sheep hear my voice,... and they follow me;
...neither shall any man pluck them out of my
hand." [5]

God is a consuming fire. He separates the dross from
the gold, purifies the human character, through the
furnace of affliction. Those who bear fruit He purgeth,
that they may bear more fruit. Through the sacred law,
He speaketh to the unfruitful in tones of Sinai: and, in [10]
the gospel, He saith of the barren fig-tree, "Cut it down;
why cumbereth it the ground?"

God is our Father and our Mother, our Minister and
the great Physician: He is man's only real relative on
earth and in heaven. David sang, "Whom have I in [15]
heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I
desire beside thee."

Brother, sister, beloved in the Lord, knowest thou
thyself, and art thou acquainted with God? If not, I
pray thee as a Christian Scientist, delay not to make Him [20]
thy first acquaintance.

Glorious things are spoken of you in His Word. Ye
are a chosen people, whose God is--what? Even _All_.
May mercy and truth go bef