From the Papers: “For unto us a child is born …”

For her sermon “The Personal and Impersonal Savior,” Mary Baker Eddy chose a text from the book of Isaiah: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (9:6). 

Eddy gave this sermon at Chickering Hall in Boston, on December 23, 1888. It was later published as a pamphlet, as well as in Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896, under the title “Christmas Sermon.” 

Reports with excerpts of the sermon were published in 1889, in both the February and April  issues of The Christian Science Journal. The author of the April article included these observations: 

The Saviour set forth in this sermon is one that many are ready to receive, and it would be difficult to find in so small a compass so much Christian Science thought that is so near the plane of the best liberal thought of the Christian world outside of Science. At the same time, the higher the understanding of Science, the more will the thought of this sermon be seen to come from the highest and serenest elevations yet opened to the human mind.

See A10385A and A10385B to read drafts with Eddy’s handwritten edits and see A10180A, A10180B, and A10180C to read documents related to this sermon.