Article May 23, 1908 Issue

A QUESTION OF LAW

CLARENCE W. CHADWICK.

It is related of King Asa that when he was diseased in his feet "he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians," and "slept with his fathers, and died." This Scriptural incident is referred to, not with a view to casting any reflection upon the medical profession, but to call attention to the fact that in forgetting to look to God in the hour of physical need he was unwittingly breaking the First Commandment and consequently disobeying the law of God. The mortal in this day and generation who ignores Mind and looks to matter for the cure of disease, is ignorant of the fact that a question of divine law is involved in the case of sickness just as much as in the case of sin, and that the great and only Lawgiver, omnipotent Spirit, and not matter, is the one supreme authority to be consulted. His "hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;" and humanity must find this out if they would "be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God."

Christian Science appeals strongly to thinking people because it presents, "with signs following," the operation of God's unerring law, the law of Love, which is "a consuming fire" to every form of evil. Humanity is hungering and thirsting for an understanding of "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," something higher than the wisdom of this world can give. Too long have men labored under the supposition that matter is a lawgiver, their master and not their servant. Too long have they yielded willing obedience to its assumed laws, until they have found themselves deprived of almost everything worth living for. Too long have they believed that these so-called laws are ordained of God and that man must submit to their unmerciful decrees, even though the human heart in the hour of trial does turn to God for relief from suffering.

If the professing Christian really believes that physical laws are the laws of God, and that sickness and pain are divinely decreed, what moral or legal right has he to expect that God will change His mind and remove the suffering, or what right has he to offer up a prayer in behalf of himself or any one else who may be suffering? What right would he have even to summon a physician, who would employ means to defeat the divine purpose? For the very reason that he both prays to God for deliverance and at the same time uses every available material means at his command to bring about the same result,—this is proof positive that he does not understand the law involved in the case. If he honestly believes that God is inflicting him with suffering, that God is in any way, directly or indirectly, responsible for his condition, that God wills or permits it to exist, then the only consistent attitude of thought is for him to bear his burden patiently and joyfully and to refuse positively to employ any means whatsoever for the alleviation of human suffering.

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