Treasure Seekers ANNIE M. KNOTT, CSD          For long years, — centuries, perhaps, — human interest has been awakened by rumors of buried treasures awaiting the adventurer's quest on land, or perchance in the depths of the sea, where some gold-laden vessel had gone down in storm or calm. Even more, however, is attention now given to the tombs and temples of other days, not so much from the desire to take from them the material treasures of past ages as to learn therefrom what men thought in those days, what they believed concerning God, man, and immortality.          Christ Jesus once said, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where . . . thieves break through and steal." Following this line of argument, Mrs. Eddy says in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 70), "The testimony of the corporeal senses cannot inform us what is real and what is delusive, but the revelations of Christian Science unlock the treasures of Truth." "The Greeks seek after wisdom," wrote Paul, and this search led Socrates to the conclusion that the mind was really the man, and the body merely its servant; yet few of the learned men of his day or of later centuries caught the deeper import of his words, for did not Paul add that with all their search after wisdom the Christ-ideal was to the Greeks merely "foolishness"?          In spite of this criticism, scholars have sought in the Greek classics for "treasures of Truth" which should enrich their finder more than any mere material thing could do. A poet of the last century has said, apostrophizing the Greeks: — "While kings in dusky darkness hid, Have left a nameless pyramid, Thy heroes — though the general gloom Hath swept the column from their tomb, A mightier monument command — The mountains of their native land! There points thy muse to stranger's eye The graves of those that cannot die!"          Greece had her rare treasures of art and philosophy, and Palestine the memories and the scenes of the world's greatest spiritual victories, while we are today learning through Christian Science that we may possess all the treasures which are worth the having if we search for them with wholehearted desire; for did not our Master say, "He that seeketh findeth"? When the young King Solomon was asked by the divine Mind what of all things he most desired, he replied, "Give . . . thy servant an understanding heart." To this the response came in no uncertain tones, "I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; . . . and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour." In Proverbs we read: "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold." To this is added regarding wisdom, "She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."          Most persons come to Christian Science because they have failed to find health and happiness in materiality, — in brief, to find life; yet did not Christ Jesus say that those who accepted what he had to offer would possess life and health abundantly? For long centuries pilgrims visited the tomb where he had lain for three days, seeking no doubt with reverential love to grasp something which would enrich their human lives; but we may well recall the angel's words to those who first went to that tomb, "He is not here: for he is risen."          As the years rolled on it even seemed as if the priceless truths the Master taught were lost, buried beneath the dense weight of mortal belief. True, there were earnest seekers in all the ages who grasped in some measure the truth of being whereby existence was bettered for them, and to some extent this was shared by others. The promise of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" awaited, however, the quest of the one who would press on with unfaltering faith until success crowned the endeavor.          For years before Mrs. Eddy's discovery of the truth of being, she had sought for the sorely needed Christ-healing, and when at length it came to her with what seemed amazing suddenness, there was still the need that its source — its divine Principle — be found. On page 109 of our inspired textbook she says, "The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing;" and so will it ever be to those who seek as she sought, those who hold close to their hearts the spiritual treasure itself, with its love, joy, and peace. Too often are the lands and houses, the treasures of earthliness, sought after, while the joy and peace are missed; yet all the while the divine provision for every human need awaits the one who first, last, and always seeks spiritual treasure.          In small measure have students of Christian Science as yet taken possession of these treasures as revealed in the Bible and in Mrs. Eddy's writings. A child or an ignorant person might cast aside unheeding a priceless gem, but this mistake were of little account compared with mortal blindness to the treasures of divine revelation. In glowing terms and with familiar figures does John, the beloved, tell in his Apocalyptic vision of "the glory and honour" of the redeemed nations when the eternal verities are sought after, seen, and loved.          The Master's admonition already quoted does not close with the charge, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth," but lifts thought to the realm of the real in the positive command, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." In Proverbs we read, "Wise men lay up knowledge;" and we should never forget that, according to the teaching of Christ Jesus, to know God is eternal life. The Master also speaks of the one who spends the days and years in laying up material treasures for himself, but "is not rich toward God."          In the book of Job the question is raised, "How doth God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?" To this comes the answer: "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart. . . . Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. . . . Then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God." In this way alone can the treasure seeker turn aside from the mere baubles of earthliness and find the imperishable treasures prepared by our Father-Mother God for all His children.   "Treasure Seekers" by Annie M. Knott, CSD Christian Science Sentinel, May 2, 1925

 

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