Article April 14, 1906 Issue

"Awake thou that sleepest"

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK.

Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. — Paul.

According to Scripture the dream of mortal existence "is of few days, and full of trouble." Mortals realize that what they experienced during the sleeping-dream was but a phantom, an illusion, which vanished with their waking, but could we converse with them during the continuance of this dream, they would no doubt contend for its indisputable reality. Not until they awake do they positively know that its seeming pleasures and pains are alike unreal.

The more important awakening for men is from the day-dream of mortal existence, which testifies to the naturalness and reality of all that is evil and perishable. Concerning this day-dream, the poor mortal has been woefully misled, for he has been told that the sense of material existence constitutes life and reality, that it is ordained of God, and consequently normal and natural. Believing this teaching true, he continues to absorb the forbidden knowledge of good and evil, until at last he becomes so dissatisfied with his miserable existence that he is divinely impelled to look outside of mortal consciousness for health, peace, and happiness. Right here is the all-important turning-point in his career; when, for the first time, he begins to realize his need of a Saviour. The still, small voice of Science speaks at the door of consciousness and gently but positively assures him that the varied experiences which he has believed to be real and unquestionable are, in fact, only the changing phenomena of a false sense, and just as much a dream as are the experiences of the night. If meekness and humility are uppermost in thought, and the desire to be Godlike is paramount to all else, he will rejoice to learn that sense-testimony is both unnatural and unreal. On the other hand, if pride and selfishness hold sway, and there is little inclination to strive for the attainment of spiritual good, he will most reluctantly concede the unreliability of sense-testimony. The Master said, "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (understood) ; and he also said to the Pharisees, "Ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth."

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