THEORY AND PRACTICE, EXAMPLE AND EMULATION

R. STANHOPE EASTERDAY.

Some time since, the idea of the divine sonship, as exemplified in the transfiguration, together with the sweet possibility of its attainment as portrayed in the vision of the Apocalypse, featured prominently in one of our Lesson-Sermons. It recalled the fact that instructors in mathematics frequently demonstrate difficult propositions for the benefit of their pupils, and sometimes ruthlessly erase the results of laborious effort, thus leaving each student to work out the problem for himself. A skilled musician will, in like manner, himself demonstrate classical selections, but will do so for the sole purpose of illustrating to the student the possibility of achievement. An artist may with a few strokes of his brush transform a commonplace drawing into a thing of beauty, while his pupils look on in wonder and admiration; some enthused and inspired, others merely awed and bewildered. As the next step the master may, with a single stroke, mar the picture and require its reproduction at the hand of each aspiring young painter. When this demand comes for individual effort in any case, that one who has felt the inspiration for achievement aroused in his breast, will struggle to emulate the teacher and approximate in a degree the desired end; while to the one who is a bewildered admirer only, there will be little of inspiration in the experience, and poor work will result. We find it so in all walks of life. It is not theory, nor example, nor aspiration alone that brings results; but these three taken together and coupled with honest effort, with practice and emulation, will always win the day.

On one occasion, the great Teacher chose three of his most advanced students and took them apart for a special and marked demonstration of the great Principle of being, an idea of sonship which he was striving to make plain to his disciples. Turning from earth to heaven, fixing his gaze upon the perfect ideal and clinging steadfastly to the truth of being, our Lord was able to produce in the presence of his disciples, and in a few brief moments, the reflection of the divine idea, immaculate man. The disciples, however, wondering and admiring indeed, awed but not inspired, failed to grasp the deep import and significance of the occasion and felt merely, "It is good for us to be here." Peter said to the Master, "Let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee [the Messiah], and one for Moses [the law], and one for Elias [the prophecy]." In other words, Let us enjoy here, forever, the sweet consciousness of the perfect example, of the letter, and of the glad promise of fruition.

But not so. Though there were represented in that experience three vital essentials to the solution of any problem,—the rule, the example, and the possibility,—there was still lacking the supreme essential, the individual demonstration or work. For this there had to be the descent again into the valley. The solution of Life's great problem had to be taken up by the disciples just where it had been laid down for a look at the great Teacher's demonstration, and the desired result had to be patiently and obediently worked out. It is furthermore deeply significant to note, in this connection, that the first effort on the part of Peter and James and John and the other disciples, after this wonderful experience, was an ignominious failure; and it is still more significant that the Master said, by way of explanation, that they could not heal the lunatic boy because this healing ability "goeth not out but by fasting and prayer." Like the fine linen of the Lamb's wife, the apparel of our transfigured Lord—"the seamless dress ... by our beds of pain"—is the "righteousness of the saints." This lesson once learned, the disciples, in their ministry of healing to mankind, many times rejoiced that the devils were subject unto them.

In much the same manner, the student of Christian Science may have been fortunate enough at some time in his experience to receive class instruction from a faithful teacher. For two weeks that teacher patiently and lovingly unfolded a higher law, revealing and explaining the Christ-ideal to the student's awakening consciousness. The classroom becomes indeed "none other than the very gate of heaven" to him, and like Peter he feels moved to say, not once but many times. "It is good for us to be here;" or he may express himself, "I wish I could remain here all the time. I could be good in such an atmosphere." Such a thought, however, is as undesirable as it is unreasonable, and the wise student represses at least its expression. Two short weeks soon speed by, and the learner goes from that class to work out the problem in his own consciousness; goes down again into the "valley of humiliation" to struggle with the human belief in disease and sin. There will doubtless be some seeming failures, but thanks be to God that, with the letter of the law of righteousness, illumined in Christian Science, with the sweet promises of the Comforter made nearer and ever applicable in our Leader's writings, and with the immaculate example of the Wayshower emphasized by Mrs. Eddy in precept and practice and held forth for safe emulation, the honest and earnest student makes "some progress" (Science and Health, Pref., P. ix.).

Who of us, indeed, that have in any measure sought this truth honestly and earnestly, cannot say that every step during the intervening years since beginning the study of Christian Science has been an upward and an outward one? Each succeeding step has indicated a gratifying progress away from the belief in material selfhood toward that high ideal, portrayed nowhere outside the teachings of Christian Science—even Christlike, divine manhood. The stepping-stones, moreover, to present and to final achievement are those well-earned periods of spiritual exaltation which come to us when some poor pain-racked or sin-sick brother is healed by our efforts; for herein we experience, legitimately, that peace "which passeth all understanding" and which is indeed a foretaste of heaven.

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