Article August 13, 1904 Issue

The Spiritual Idea and Human Need

LUMAN A. FIELD.

Our Master said, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." To this divine, and therefore eternal and universal, promise and assurance, there is attached one condition,—"come unto me,"—and were it not that the spiritual idea guides "all right desires in their passage from ... a material sense of existence to the spiritual" (Science and Health, p. 566), we would at the very threshold of the opening prison be defrauded of our rights by "carnal beliefs" (Science and Health, p. 263). Some erroneous belief concerning Truth or the proper channel through which the knowledge of Truth should come, some prejudice, some false pride, some form of self-love or fear may darken the understanding and hinder us in our effort to "arise and go" to the Father.

The story of the healing of the blind man as told by Luke, illustrates some of the difficulties experienced in coming to the spiritual idea. Hearing the noise of a multitude passing by, the blind man asked the meaning of it, and was told, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." Note the identifying quality,—of Nazareth. Error often begins its work with a contemptuous expression calculated to arouse prejudice and unbelief, and thus bar the advance to a higher plane of thought and experience.

Had the bystander with physical vision but recognized the spiritual idea Jesus presented, the human sense would have been wonderfully illuminated, for, instead of the reply, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by," the blind man might have heard a hope-inspiring statement in line with the thought given in our text-book. "The highest human corporeal concept of the divine idea, rebuking and destroying error, and bringing to light man's immortality" (Science and Health, p. 589). That the blind man had to some degree this clearer spiritual sight, and had caught somewhat of this divine concept of Jesus, is evidenced by his putting aside the thought of "Nazareth," and crying out, "Jesus, thou son of David [son of man, after God's own heart], have mercy on me." The subtle effort to obstruct progress by contempt and prejudice having failed, mortal beliefs assume a bolder and more aggressive attitude, and now the blind man is rebuked for crying out, and is commanded to "hold his peace." The human need is forbidden to voice its cry for help, but we rejoice to know that "human hate has no legitimate mandate" (Science and Health, p. 454).

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