Article January 25, 1908 Issue

THE GOLDEN MEAN

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK

Christian Scientists have more than once been acused of being extremists. This accusation has resulted, not so much from what they have done, but from what has been said in some unguarded moment. In fact, it is safe to say that that unruly member, the tongue, is generally at the bottom of nine-tenths of all trouble.

The neophyte in Science, bubbling over with the enthusiasm of kindling hopes and expectation, is prone to get into trouble. He catches a glimpse of the newly discovered realm of Mind, and of his own present and future possibilities, and his first impulse is to tell the glad news to everybody. The truth tastes so sweet that he wants all his friends and relatives to share it with him. It has helped him, and he knows that it will help them. His logic is sound, and because it is sound he may often be tempted to say more than he can prove; in other words, to talk about much that he does not yet understand.

He does not stop to consider the diversity and perversity of human thinking, does not stop to realize that he is making absolute statements which are of necessity stumbling-blocks to the unprepared and unreceptive thought. Nor does he consider that there are many standing ready to catch him in his words. Not until he learns that he is dealing with a "perverse and crooked generation" does he realize that there is "a time to keep silence and a time to speak." Not until he expresses the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of a dove does he learn to "keep the golden mean between saying too much and too little." The great Master must have had a keen appreciation of this fact when he said to his twelve disciples, "Behold. I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves;" and upon another occasion he used this forcible language: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs. neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you."

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
"PROVE ALL THINGS"
January 25, 1908
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit