Love's Demands ALBERT F. GILMORE, CSB            Upon no one of his many important precepts did Christ Jesus place more emphasis than upon the necessity of drawing a clear distinction between the Spirit and the flesh, — that is to say, between Truth and error, between reality and unreality. Again and again, in varying terms, he emphasized this necessity, and always with a definite purpose. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing," he declared to the Jews, murmuring against him; and he added significantly, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." Here the Master drew a clear distinction between spiritual truth and the beliefs of the flesh, obviously meaning by the latter all the erroneous beliefs emanating from the fundamental falsity that life exists in matter and is dependent upon it. Beliefs arising from so erroneous a supposition could by no force of logic or argumentation possess even a modicum of truth, for right conclusions are never deduced from false premises.          It was through his perfect understanding of the truth of being, of the facts concerning God, man, and the universe, and of the nothingness of the counterfeit — the claims of evil — that Jesus was enabled to utter words capable of restoring to conditions of harmony those suffering from many and varied forms of disease. The words that he spoke out of the fullness of demonstrated understanding destroyed the illusory beliefs made manifest to human sense in discord, want, and misery. So sure was he of his premises that the result was immediate; instantaneously, as it were, the conditions regarded as normal were manifested by the one in need.          What gave such power to Jesus' words? Nothing less than the great depth of his spiritual understanding, his extraordinary grasp of the all-presence of good, of the omnipotence of God and the perfection of His universe. Out of the fullness of his spiritual consciousness he demonstrated the power of God to destroy the claims of evil. Through the clarity of her spiritual vision Mrs. Eddy explains this perfectly in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 54): "Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he defined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error." How completely does our Leader define the means whereby the Master was enabled to make his great demonstrations! He employed no unnatural or supernatural power, but rather he utilized his understanding of the infinite power of God, good, whom he knew to possess the only power.          Is not, then, the great need of every true follower of Christ Jesus, of everyone who really desires to follow in his footsteps, to gain, in some degree at least, the same spiritual assurance in order to repeat his works?          Jesus refrained altogether from indulging the pleasurable beliefs of the flesh; his was no divided allegiance. Not partially but fully did he give himself to the service of God. And who can deny that his reward was commensurate with his devotion and obedience? How can mortals hope to reap the joys of true blessedness without emulating his example? In order to throw off the limitations which the beliefs of the flesh seem to impose, Christian Science demands of each of its adherents utmost consecration to the service of good, if salvation and the kingdom of heaven are to be won. The demands are both definite and inclusive, and they leave no possibility of receiving Love's rewards without meeting the requirements which Spirit makes upon us. Since spiritual progress is individual, one can no more progress through another's demonstration, except so far as it serves to inspire one's endeavor, than he can collect the wages earned by another.          God administers to His children with exact justice; and there is no falling away from His precise demands, no letting down of the standard which He imposes. Nor can there be a substitute for spiritual apprehension. God's works can be performed only by those spiritually prepared; and such preparation results only from consecrated living. The devoted disciple in the laboratory of his own life gains the power which enables him to destroy the claims of error.          We understand only so much of Truth as we can prove. The divine Mind is the only power, and for this power there is no substitute. Neither human will nor selfish desire can accomplish the works of Christ, Truth. So sure of this was our beloved Leader that she could say on page 446 of Science and Health, "Not human platitudes, but divine beatitudes, reflect the spiritual light and might which heal the sick." Are not human platitudes the sayings prompted by mortal mind, words without understanding, which, while they might have the same form, yet without the background of spiritual assurance would scarcely accomplish the healing works? "Divine beatitudes," messengers from infinite Mind voicing the blessed truths which Love ever offers, have the supreme office of healing the sick; of releasing mankind from every sense of bondage; of revealing the heavenly kingdom where Truth, Life, and Love reign constantly and forever, and where there is nothing "that defileth, . . . or maketh a lie." To reach the state of blessedness expressed by the divine beatitudes is the desire of the earnest Christian. Why? Because there divine Love alone reigns.   "Love's Demands" by Albert F. Gilmore, CSB Christian Science Sentinel, October 18, 1924

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