Article December 19, 1908 Issue

THE BATTLE OF THE AGES

PHILIP O. PEIRCE

Years ago, in the American church in Constantinople, that grand hymn, "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war," was sung by the congregation with such a true spirit that it rang out through the streets of Constantinople, and the Mohammedans gathered in knots and listened. The Sultan heard of it and took means to suppress the singing. He could stop the sound of the voices ringing out to the public, but he could not kill the spirit of love in their hearts.

That hymn speaks for the Christian Science spirit. We carry the same banner that Paul carried when he walked up the Appian Way to Rome, the banner of Love, and no power on earth can stop the advance of our Cause, for it brings to human hearts a sense of the almighty love of God. We as Christian Scientists have enlisted to do our utmost to relieve the world of sin and fear, disease and sorrow, to wipe the dust and tears from the eyes of our brothers, and to make the world brighter and better. It is our duty to be courteous to all our fellow-creatures, be they what they may. Pride of place, self-satisfaction, false superiority, spring from narrow minds and selfish hearts alone; they are never born of Love. We cannot twist the letter of Christian Science to fit mortal selfishness, but must blend ourselves into the oneness of divine Love, get in tune with our Maker, that we may do His work.

If any one thinks he can take up Christian Science for a fad, he will be sadly disappointed. If any one thinks he can take it up as a money-making busines, he stands in the shoes of Ananias and his end is bound to be pitiful. We cannot deceive ourselves if we reason justly, and we cannot deceive God for He is the only and infinite intelligence; all else is misunderstanding and ignorance, but man is at-one with Him in truth. Let us search ourselves, and see if we can stand the test whether we are genuine or false,—if we are working to glorify ourselves or for the glory of God. Christian Science is not a personal affair, it is the battle of the ages, and if we are true soldiers in this great Cause of Christ, we do not mind the wounds—they are lost in the rapture of the fight, the fight for all that is good, the battle of Almighty Love against the seeming darkness of this world.

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A SIMPLE LESSON
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