Article November 9, 1907 Issue

PRESUMPTION

RICHARD P. VERRALL.

Be penitent for your sins, and yet despair not: be strong in faith, yet presume not.—Lady Jane Grey.

The word presumption is derived from the Latin words præ before, and sumere, to take. The New International Encyclopedia gives as the legal sense of the word, "An inference as to the existence of a fact not known or proved to exist." In Christian Science we might define it as blind faith in God, unsupported by an understanding of Priniciple. The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia gives the meaning of the word presumption, in its relation to religion in general, as "a bold and daring confidence in the goodness of God, without obedience to His will." Admitting the correctness of this definition, it must necessarily follow that one may confidently depend upon the goodness of God in all times of need, if obedient to His will.

Obedience to the will of God is the logical and necessary act of bringing the carnal will into subjection to the divine Mind. General Gordon said: "Success and happiness are to be had only in giving up our own will." No one can reasonably object to a bargain which offers so much in exchange for so little. Every one knows deep down in his own heart that obedience to the fleshly lusts is the worst form of bondage. No one respects a man who is selfish, sensual, and debased. The true man is obedient to Priniciple, to the will of God; he is confident, strong, and serene in times of danger; he is neither dominated by excitement nor terrorized by fear, but his mind is always stayed on God, and in Him he puts his trust.

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