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ELLA W. HOAG, CSD
This hour is one in which God's demand upon Christian Scientists to be true to His Science is becoming daily more and more apparent. Nothing but this perfect Science of Life can ever settle the vexed questions of the world at large, and Christian Scientists understand full well that this can and will be done only for the whole, as each individual brings his own life under its blessed control. Each in his heart of hearts longingly desires to have his every thought, word, and deed in exact conformity with the divine Principle of this Science; and who does not at least believe that he would sacrifice all for it? The Christ, Truth, has undoubtedly knocked at each one's mental door, and been listened to and welcomed to that extent. It is one thing to welcome this guest into one's home, but quite another to allow him to take unchallenged possession, ruling out all that is contrary to the divine rule and method. When we daily pray: "'Thy kingdom come;' let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin" (Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 4), how often do we cling to it as the one foremost purpose of the day? Is it sometimes allowed only to knock at the doors and then is the door practically closed upon it, while personal desires, personal motives, personal interests, are allowed to claim the place which should be given only to divine Truth and Love? When this perfect Science was revealed to Mrs. Eddy, it found her already so purified in thought and life that nothing could daunt her pursuance of the unalterable purpose to give this Science to the world so protected and established that nothing should be able to interfere with its continued and prosperous unfoldment. Always she was listening for God's voice, and always obeying it; and never once did she swerve from such obedience. Nothing short of such singleness of purpose could have led her forward to the successful fulfillment of her mighty task. It were well if every Christian Scientist would frequently contemplate the life of our beloved Leader, and gain from such contemplation the lessons which may there be learned. There could be but one motive equal to the accomplishment of her stupendous work, — the motive to know God's will and to do it. Never once did she hesitate when He pointed the way, — never once did she fail to stand for the law of Principle, which she knew must be made plain for the world, that it might thereby be delivered from all belief in evil. Every word she uttered or wrote was in obedience to the demand of divine Principle, and in accordance with its law. Never did personal sense turn her aside into its deceiving bypaths. Every word and act of hers was measured by the unfailing, unchangeable, immutable square of God's law before it passed the portals of her activity. She invited the Christ, Truth, into her house, — her consicousness, — and never hesitated to obey its least or greatest demand. Is it asking too much of the Christian Scientist that he shall walk in the footsteps of our Leader in the unswerving purpose of obedience to God, to divine Principle? All will admit that some day all must do so if they would reach the goal of perfection. Then why not now? So-called mortal mind may try to convince one that all the steps need not be taken, or need not be taken in just the same way she took them; but mortal mind never yet told the truth, — then why should it be trusted where the Science of Life is concerned? No Christian Scientist could conceive of a more perfect, more desirable path than to follow her as she followed Christ; nor can there be the slightest question that it includes the sum and substance of necessity for every one of us. Then, surely, no one would hesitate a moment in wholehearted acceptance of the fact that sometime he must walk in this path, — and walk all the way through it. The fact is that all Christian Scientists have already virtually accepted this path — the path of Christian Science — as the only way. They also know that holiest purpose alone is sufficient to keep them steadfastly walking therein. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 326) Mrs. Eddy writes: "Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way. 'Who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the truth?'" This emphasizes the great primal necessity of right motive, which point must be constantly guarded. Continually must the Christian Scientist be watchful that his purpose shall measure up to the demand of Principle, even as did that of our Leader; and he, too, must maintain such purpose unswervingly. Each hour he must watch that no lesser incentive than the unselfish purpose to serve God and his fellowman shall govern him. The true Christian Scientist cannot fail to see the possibility, yes, the obligation, to examine every thought in order that he shall never approach any activity except from this high and exalted position. Yes, this is possible! It may take patience and very great deliberation in the beginning; but it can surely be accomplished. Every contemplated word and deed can be examined under the light of unselfish devotion to Principle before it is put into activity. Then, gradually, all action will become the spontaneous unfoldment of reflected good. The great security of the Christian Scientist lies in the fact that God is always at hand supplying not only the perfect purpose but the understanding to maintain it unswervingly. Isaiah declared to the people: "Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left;" and in Science and Health (p. 506) we read: "Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels and unfolds these thoughts, even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear."
The Christian Science Journal, August, 1922 |
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