Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1898).djvu/556

534 Here the serpentine lie invents new forms. It usurps divine power at first. It is supposed to say,

in the first instance, “Ye shall be as gods.” Now it repudiates even the human duty of man towards his brother.

The belief in material life sins at every step. It incurs the divine displeasure, and would kill Jesus, that it

might be rid of troublesome Truth. Material beliefs would slay the idea of Spirit, whenever and wherever it appears. Though error hides behind a lie, and excuses guilt, it cannot forever be concealed. Truth, through her eternal laws, unveils error. It causes sin to betray itself, and sets upon error the mark of the beast. The disposition to excuse guilt, or conceal it, is punished. The avoidance of justice and denial of Truth tends to perpetuate sin, invoke crime, jeopardize self-control, and mock the divine mercy.

“He that taketh the sword shall perish by the sword.” Let Truth uncover and destroy error in God's own way,

and let human justice wait on the divine. Sin shall receive its full penalty, both for what it is and what it does. Justice marks the sinner, and teaches mortals not to remove the way marks of God.