II Peter 1: 5-8 a balm

The first chapter of II Peter came like a balm to me. A 'how to do it' for the student of the Christ Science.  Don't we love to hear, "...add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.  For if these things be in you and abound, then make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1: 5-8)?

The second chapter seems to be the reverse.  I am reminded of Mary Baker Eddy's resistance to including the chapter Animal Magnetism Unmasked in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.  Mrs. Eddy recounts her God-directed experience that led to its inclusion in her article "The Precious Volume". (See her book Retrospection and Introspection pp 37-39.)  It has me wondering if she was led to emulate what Peter had done in these two chapters of II Peter.

I and II Peter have not been an easy study for me, but on reading the Christian Science Lesson Sermon today (subject: Unreality), I am left with the conclusion that, in effect, we can have no opposite to good - no good and evil, no light and darkness.  We can have no "ands" in connection with God.  Likewise we can have no "buts."

The second chapter begins with a "but".  This is but one of the "buts" which error puts forward when we are tempted to think there can be any "ands" that can be added to God, or that man can be separated from Him and His total, infinite goodness.

Interestingly, in the Reading Room today I came across an article by Emma C Shipman entitled "A Lesson in Spiritual Addition".  This is all about the quoted II Peter I:5-8.  Beginning with faith she talks of "death-defying faith."   The article is very good*. 

Joyce Voysey

*See The Christian Science Journal March 1939 or click on the link here from jsh-online. http://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1939/3/56-12/a-lesson-in-spiritual-addition