Article February 11, 1911 Issue

MENTAL SELF-KNOWLEDGE

JUDGE CLIFFORD P. SMITH.

The history of the human race shows that its search and hope have always been for a larger dominion over adverse conditions and a greater continuity of life. That the better desires of mankind may be resolved into these elements is proved by these words of Christ Jesus, "I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John x. 10, Rev. Ver.). This then is the prayer of humanity, and its answer is Christian Science.

Christian Science reveals the simple facts that nothing is adverse to the actual welfare of man but false belief; that whatever appears to detract from the quality or the continuity of man's real being is of this illusive nature; and that these illusions appear to the individual in the guise of his own thoughts. In short, the only adversary is a mere negation or error, which has neither substance, power, nor reality. This being the case, the need of mental self-knowledge is evident. When the time comes that no one will listen to error, we shall all be in the kingdom of heaven. Indeed, in so far as any individual declines to be the audience of error, to that extent does he enter into the kingdom of heaven. If an individual should steadfastly abide in good, so that he would never listen to any form of evil, he would neither be affected by it himself nor communicate it to others. It is literally true, therefore, that the daily work of a Christian Scientist is to hear and obey the voice of Truth and to detect and reject the suggestions of error.

Then the question arises, How can we learn to do this? Our Leader has answered this question in many places. For instance, in her address at the dedication of the Concord church she said: "To live so as to keep human consciousness in constant relation with the divine, the spiritual and eternal, is to individualize infinite power,—and this is Christian Science" (The Christian Science Journal, August, 1904). It might be answered, in other words, that one's first need is to understand the source and Principle of true thought. Secondly, one needs to comprehend the function of man in the action of Mind. Thirdly, one must learn to distinguish genuine thoughts from mere counterfeits.

Send a comment to the editors