Article July 25, 1903 Issue

Bringing forth Fruit with Patience

SAMUEL GREENWOOD

The fruits of a righteous life are prized by even the ungodly, though they shrink from the toil and time which are the price of their possession. In his desire for better things the awakening sinner often overlooks his accumulated transgressions, which can only be cancelled through reformation; and he whose vision has been opened in Christian Science to discern somewhat of the perfect Life divine, is apt to forget the valley of human beliefs through which he must pass as victor to reach the summit of his spiritual freedom. From afar he gains a glimpse of Love's dominion over man; this thought illuminates, uplifts, heals him; and in his joy he feels that it is but a short journey to that ideal life. Let not the neophyte in Christian Science be disappointed when this expectation is not realized, nor let his failures discourage him. The disciples were exalted to behold the glory of their Master's transfiguration, but they descended again into the valley and had many struggles with fear, cowardice, and failure ere they received the baptism which enabled them to follow him in demonstration.

Jesus with his wonderful spiritual insight discerned the nature and extent of human error and the magnitude of the work necessary to accomplish the salvation of mortals. When explaining to his students the parable of the sower, declared that the seed in the good ground are those honest and good hearts which, "having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." He was teaching spiritual truths and must have referred to the results of spiritual understanding, or the knowledge of God as Spirit. In Paul's epistle to the Galatians these fruits are spoken of as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." These are the fruits demanded of all Christians, and in their production patience fulfils her "perfect work."

In the ardor of our first faith in Christian Science we may have felt that any evidence of error must quickly yield to our declarations of Truth, and though this has often been the case, a fuller experience has taught us that the way in Christian Science is the way of Christianity, and that much prayer and fasting are needed to bring out its higher demonstrations. There is a cross to be taken up and borne, a race to be run, a battle to be fought ere we shall gain the full fruition of the Christian's hope. There is no sudden transition from evil to good; it is a toilsome journey, a constant struggle, and requires patient work and waiting.

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