Article December 5, 1908 Issue

"THE GENIUS OF CHRISTIAN SCIENCE"

GEORGE C. DUFF

Webster defines humility as lowliness of mind. To the general mortal sense it is associated with poverty and other threadbare inexcusable weaknesses much in need of a great sustaining hope. It is, however, a note, deep and full, that rings with no uncertain sound throughout the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation. Every noteworthy character described therein is clothed in humility and obedience, the handmaids of wisdom. Although the word is seldom used by our Leader, all her works breathe forth the very spirit of true humility, and in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 356) she refers to it as "the genius of Christian Science."

Moses was the meekest of men, but likewise the greatest of prophets. His exhortations to the children of Israel are couched in every vein from the pleading to the emphatic command, "Hear, O Israel." Humble obedience ever brought happiness, peace, and prosperity, while rebellion as surely brought defeat, poverty, suffering, captivity, and death. In the 8th Psalm, that scientific gem of purest water, the psalmist strikes the note true and clear. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" In another place he sings of its rewards: "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." Solomon says, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom." Daniel worshiped God with true humility, and was accounted "a man greatly beloved." Nebuchadnezzar, king unto all people, nations, and languages that dwelt in all the earth, mentally decked himself in tin and tinsel and said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" In the same hour that he uttered this pompous boast, the chronicle reads, "he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." When, however, like the prodigal son, he came to himself, and learned humility, the glory of his kingdom was returned to him and excellent majesty was added. Briefly but sincerely he expresses his gratitude for the bitter lesson learned, when he says, "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."

Said Christ Jesus: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Jesus had just prayed, "I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes."—unto the humble of heart, the trustful, the innocent and pure. Christ Jesus lived truth because it was his own, and taught that if we would know truth, we must also make it our own by living it. He was humble, because he possessed the fulness of the consciousness of the ever-presence of God his Father. He was infinite good expressed, and he not only reflected continually this goodness, but he saw the perfect reflection of God in all creation around him; as Mrs. Eddy says, "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man. who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals" (Science and Health, p. 476). Jesus was humble: no material mist separated him from his heavenly Father, but to the full he possessed the seeing eye, the hearing ear, and the understanding heart. Said he, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

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