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DAVID B. OGDEN
These words of our Master were uttered at the conclusion of his memorable discourse to those in the Temple at Jerusalem, spoken almost at the close of his faithful ministry, but a few days prior to the crucifixion, and they seem to contain, as it were, the "conclusion of the whole matter." At this time we find the Master plied with sinister questions by deceitful followers, and sharply catechized by those in authority, the chief priests, scribes, and elders, all of whom were anxiously seeking to entrap him by word or deed, that they might have excuse to "deliver him up;" but Jesus, through his divine understanding and wisdom, was enabled to discern the deceit and craftiness of their questionings, and put all to silence with the word of Truth. He then tells his hearers of the signs which shall manifest themselves during the "days to come," of the troublous times of the latter days, of the wars, famines, and pestilences, and of the final destruction awaiting that which to them was deemed the manifestation of substantiality itself, the gorgeous and massive Temple in which they were assembled, and likewise of the desolation which awaited even the city in which they dwelt. He tells his disciples they shall be hated of men, delivered up and cast into prison, for his sake, but to take no anxious thought as to their deliverance, for wisdom would be given them in that hour, and not one hair of their heads be harmed. He warns all to take heed to themselves lest the pleasures, temptations, and cares of mortal existence so occupy their time and attention that they forget and heed not what he has foretold them, and thus let the destruction and tribulation come upon them unawares. Then follows the closing admonition to be ever watchful and "pray always," that they may "escape all these things," and thus "stand before the son of man," that is, that each might eventually be possessed of the same Mind which was in him, Christ Jesus. By contemplative perusal of the text quoted, it will be observed that the Master was not giving simply a suggestive warning to the comparatively few listeners then gathered about him, the heeding of which was optional, but was addressing himself to all mankind for all time to come, and that these words are as emphatic in command as others he has given us, and let us remember that he has said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." But one will say, "It is not possible for me, in this day and age, to perfectly obey this injunction, 'pray always,' for in that case I could not properly attend to my business," or "I should have to totally neglect my household cares," or "my political duties and social obligations would have to be slighted," in fact, excuses innumerable are presented, as in the parable of the "Great supper." On first thought, the excuses may seem to us justifiable, but let us consider. Would Jesus have commanded us to do something which he knew beforehand that we were unable to fulfil? Would the apostles continually have reiterated in their preaching the same thought, or would St. Paul have admonished the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing?" Surely, one who relies at all upon the teachings of the sacred Scriptures, and on the words and works of our Master, must answer this question in the negative, and come to the conclusion that not only is it possible, but absolutely imperative, that this divine injunction be kept, if we expect to call ourselves Christians, followers of Christ Jesus. Arriving at this conclusion, that it is our duty to "pray always," another proposition presents itself, — that of its practicability. Certainly, we cannot be literally upon our knees at all hours of the day, nor can we keep up a continued audible supplication as we go about our work. No, this was not expected nor required by Jesus, and it is our limited and formal sense of what "prayer" means that suggests such impossibilities to us. It is only as this false sense is corrected through the light of Christian Science, as revealed in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" that we are enabled to properly interpret and make practical the commands of the Master. See Science and Health [1897 edition], page 809-28; 310-1; 317-10, and 221-31. From the foregoing references, we learn that every honest desire to know the Truth, every good motive and act, every struggle for purer lives, every denial of the claims of matter or evil, and every affirmation of the omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience of Good, are each and every one a prayer which the Father hears and answers, and as these conditions of thought occupy our minds, we find ourselves not neglecting "the work which our hands find to do," that which it is our duty to perform, but on the contrary, we are able to execute it more skillfully and to the glory of God. Thus are we truly in constant prayer. Those of us who, as yet, seem called upon to fill places in the business or social world, have constantly the opportunity of proving for ourselves and others the efficacy of obedience to our text, whether at the desk, in the field, or at home, and illustrative of this fact, the following experience is given. As a civil engineer, it became the writer's duty a year or two ago to make a survey in the western part of the state of Washington. To reach the point of survey, it was necessary to ride some thirty miles on one of the small steamers plying upon Upper Puget Sound. While en route, the subject of Christian Science came up in conversation with a fellow-passenger, who was at the time suffering with rheumatism, and upon hearing the spoken word, he turned at once to Truth and asked for aid. My own sense of limitation urged me to recommend my "afflicted" friend to some "regular practitioner," or to put him off with the promise to treat him absently when surrounding conditions were more harmonious, and less "material" work confronted me; but these suggestions were seen to be error and not yielded to, and my patient received his treatment while sitting upon a pile of freight, 'tween decks, with the crew at work about us the entire time. Upon reaching my landing-place I bade my friend adieu, and he continued his journey up the sound to his ranch in the woods, and though I have not met him since that time, I received word several months later from him that the "rheumatism" had vanished from that day, and Christian Science was given full credit for the work accomplished. When last heard from, he was, in turn, doing his work by turning others to the Light. Thus it is that Truth works, and we never know when some thought, word, or deed of ours may prove a steppingstone to waiting humanity, and it behooves us to continually "watch" and "pray always." There never occurs a time when we are so completely occupied with our so-called material work, but that we may follow the thoughts given us from our textbook, Science and Health, and in proportion as such thoughts become our constant companions, we find our very lives becoming constant prayers, and then shall we be "accounted worthy," as said the Master, "to escape," through demonstration, the distress and affliction of mortal mind, which he foresaw must manifest itself in these latter days, for those things which the world deems substantial and desirable, — wealth, position, and fame, are each day proven to be more unstable and fallible. S.& H. [1897 edition] page 2. "Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith and doubt not . . . all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
The Christian Science Journal, May, 1897 |
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