which, in order to persist, must have its foundation in the true knowledge of God. If you would be constantly happy, that is, manifest your true Being which is at peace, strong and healthy, prosperous and full of love and knowledge, you must think good thoughts not only "now and then" but perpetually, which means the casting out of every other kind of thought.
We must begin to put out of our minds miserable, gloomy thoughts, not letting memories of injuries, sorrows, and mistakes possess us, and allow only those thoughts which give power and presence to Good remain in our mentality. We must put from us every doubt and fear, all discouraging thoughts of every kind, and hold fast only to those thoughts that God thinks.
Whoever is in a state of happiness is in Heaven, no matter what his surroundings may be, for Heaven is a consciousness, not a place. The Kingdom may be represented by a place filled with joy, beauty, and goodness, but primarily it is within our hearts and minds, and does not depend upon externals for perpetuation. We must find Heaven within ourselves, regardless of our associates and environments. As soon as we identify ourselves with the Divine within we become powers to externalize our inward happiness in forms which fitly symbolize God's creation. "And when he [Jesus] was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation : neither shall they say, Lo, here ! or, lo there ! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 77:20, 21.
Jesus Christ came to teach men to look for Heaven right in their midst. He called his teaching "Preaching the Kingdom of Heaven," which is, in other words, declaring the ruling of the Good. At one time he contrasts it to the old preaching : "The law and the prophets were until John : since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." Luke 16:16. He declared that every nation must hear of this teaching before the end of the old conditions could come (Matt. 24:14), and he has but one instruction to all his followers as to their preaching: "As ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt. 107. What does the phrase "at hand" mean? What do you mean when in writing a letter in answer to a correspondent you say, "Your letter is at hand ?" Do you mean that it is coming by and by ? No. You mean that it is in this place at this present moment here now. So also Jesus meant: The Kingdom of Heaven is here now. Is not this the good news the gospel we are to proclaim the world over?
The Christ still says to you, "Go, preach the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Preach goodness and happiness as the only real presence and power (kingdom) in all the universe.
Must we speak contrary to the senses? Did not Jesus do so? With thousands of poor, hungry, sick, miserable creatures around him he still declared the true Kingdom. And while he spoke Heaven came to one after another of those cripples and miserable beings he proved his doctrine by his works.
Does it seem to you that you are telling a lie to say these things? Then remember that you are speaking of everlasting things only, and you will see that your words are true. The student of divine things ceases to think or talk about worldly and temporal appearances as though they were realities, but he lets his "conversation" be "in heaven," and enlarges upon the bright side of life, and learns to meditate upon and discuss the enduring things of Being.
When you say there is no evil, sin, sickness or death you are speaking of the real World ("My kingdom is not of this world"), where none of these things have any place.
When you say, "I am pure and holy," "I am strong and well," you are speaking of the real I, the true Self, and not of the personality called by an earthly name, and which but represents you for the time being.
Is it not written in the Scripture, "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3 :10) ?
Ignore the personal claims of sickness, believe only in the Son of God, and identify your I AM with the pure and holy, healthy, immortal Son of God. So also when speaking to others address the Real in them, and you will no longer feel that you are saying that which is not true in denying the senses, and declaring your neighbor well and strong. "Speak ye every man truth to his neighbor . . . and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor." Zech. 8: 16, 17. "He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness ... the tongue of the wise is health."Prov. 12:17, 18.
The Good is all about us and in us. We live, move, and have our being in Health, Life, and Love. God fills all things as thoughts fill the mind. But nothing comes forth without the Word. "All things were made by him [the Word] ; and without him was not anything made that was made" John 1 13.
Words are the expression of Mind. Words are thoughts made visible, or brought to consciousness and realization.
We are continually speaking words, but not always aloud, for there are silent or mental words as well as audible. These words are forming and reforming, unforming and deforming all the conditions and manifestations in and around us. If our silent or audible words dwell upon evil, then evil conditions "show forth;" if upon good, then good is manifest. "But I say unto you, That every idle [even the lightest, vainest] word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof ... for by thy words thou shalt be justified [established in Good] and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" [continue in ignorance and misery]. Matt. 12:36, 37.
If one says, "I am sick," "I can't understand," "I am tired," and so forth, he will continue subject to sickness, to be in ignorance, be weary, and so forth, until Truth causes him to cease from such utterances through a true change of heart.
If one says, "I will fear no evil for thou art with me" when faced by danger ; or, "I love you" before the darts of hatred and persecution ; or, "The child of God knows no failure or discouragement," he shall be established in fearlessness, in omnipotent love, in success, in just the measure that he realizes the truth of the words he utters.
The Word is the divine means by which God creates, and Man, following in the footsteps of God, uses the same means, words, to bring into manifestation what God has already created.
The original intention and use of language was not to convey thought, but for the purpose of creation. Spiritual magicians can decree a thing, and it shall be established unto them (Job 22:28).
In the Golden Age all men shall work after the manner of Christ, who did all things by his word healing the sick, raising the dead, stilling the storm, feeding the multitudes.
Jesus declared, "What things soever he [the Father] doeth, these also doeth the Son, likewise" (John 5:19), and inspiration revealed to the writer of Genesis that previous to every manifestation "God said."
"And God said, Let there be light : and there was light."
"And God said, Let there be a firmament . . . and it was so."
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass . . . and it was so."
"And God said, Let there be lights ... and it was so."
"And God said, Let the waters bring forth." "And God said, Let us make man in our image." Whoever follows in the footsteps of Jesus will work as he saw the Father work, speaking forth all that is to be manifest by the power of decree.
Throughout the Bible are references to God's word, its delight, and its power. Men have missed the meaning of those texts by thinking that it was the written book that was referred to, whereas the Bible itself teaches that we are
