Article January 30, 1909 Issue

"UPON THIS ROCK."

W. PETCH.

In the first book of Kings we read that "Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, ... But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent." This mention of David seems, in the light of Christian Science, to be an illustration of the individual consciousness which is still struggling with thoughts of good and of evil, taking the side of good more firmly since its partial awakening through the study of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, but not yet fully convinced of the absolute nothingness of error, therefore still more or less at war or in conflict. But God had promised David, "Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; ... He shall build an house for my name."

We find that in the most recent editions of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy has omitted the word "strive" from the last of the tenets of The Mother Church (p. 497), so that it reads: "We solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus." Does not this indicate that many Christian Scientists are reaching, or have already reached, that altitude of spiritual understanding of the one Mind, even God, good, which is the basis of true peace and rest,—the purer concept of God, and of man as His likeness, which is the foundation for the rebuilding of the house of the Lord, the universal consciousness of Love, upon the everlasting rock, Truth?

Above all other gifts and honors Solomon had requested the one gift of the knowledge of God, which is the only true wisdom and which includes all other blessings. His prayer was granted, and through this knowledge Solomon was enabled to overcome all his enemies, even as we learn in Christian Science that the understanding and demonstration of the one Mind overmasters whatever is wrong in human consciousness. In the degree that Christian Scientists attain the conscious certainty of the omnipotence of God, good, they must of necessity rest more peacefully upon the rock of Truth, ceasing from much of their former sense of painful wrestling with error because of their knowledge of its nothingness and powerlessness, thus finding increased respite from their enemies in which to build anew their house of God, to "reconstruct timid justice and place the fact above the falsehood" (Science and Health, p. 238), to establish faith by demonstration, to work with the Father-Mother God who seeth in secret,—themselves rewarded openly with the joy of the appearing of the "Sun of righteousness," whose light forever dispels the gloomy shadows of sickness, sin, and death.

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