Article October 2, 1909 Issue

SENSE TESTIMONY REBUKED

HATTIE P. WILLIAMS

One day, while thinking of the wondrous work and scope of Christian Science, it came to me suddenly that, in order to demonstrate its teachings more fully in daily life, every claim made by the corporeal senses, in their effort to manifest and maintain the belief of either pleasure or pain in the body, must be quickly detected and denied. This I knew would require increased alertness, and constant watchfulness to prevent the counterfeits of material sense testimony from entering consciousness and passing themselves off for the ideas of Truth. Every expression that went to make up the "old man" of mortal belief must be challenged, brought before the judgment-seat of Truth, and measured by the standard of the "new man," God's image and likeness, and if found lacking in the slightest particular, denied admission, or any power to influence thought and action.

Very soon the chance came to prove if I were on guard. An old and very alluring sense of material pleasure swept over me, insistently demanding that I follow the former paths and participate again in what in the old way had given me so much seeming enjoyment (sense satisfaction). A sharp struggle ensued; error bringing up its arguments that a little excursion into the old playgrounds of mortal mind was harmless, etc.; the prospect looked attractive, promising some excitement, and a renewal of old friendships that had existed solely on the basis of selfishness and love of admiration. Then quickly a voice whispered. This is the opportunity to repulse and cast out the claim of any sense of pleasure apart from Spirit and spiritual being. Immediately the desire was gone, and a wondrous sense of peace came to my consciousness.

I knew that the idea of Truth had bruised the head of the serpent, and the utter falsity of the suggestion of any life or joy apart from the pursuit of holiness, the knowledge of God, was made plain to me. I rejoiced that another step had been taken out of Egypt (mortal mind) into the promised land of spiritual understanding and completeness, wherein man is the forever expression of purity and spiritual content.

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