Editorial January 1, 1910 ISSUE

CLIMBING THE LADDER.

John B. Willis

The sentiment involved in Jacob's undertaking, and the hopes that must have filled his heart, may have given interpretation as well as form to his wondrous dream, but whatever else the vision may have signified, it must have spoken to him as to us of the possibility of ascension, and indicated the way thereto; namely, by taking the successive steps of sincere and honest effort, by the progressive escape from a "low-vaulted past" through the attainment of a higher, more heavenly sense. It thus illustrates that order of spiritual progress which Christian Science has recognized as the way of improved belief, and respecting which Mrs. Eddy has said, "When Christ changes a belief of sin or of sickness into a better belief, then belief melts into spiritual understanding." "Mortals should so improve material belief by thought tending spiritually upward as to destroy materiality" (Science and Health, pp. 442, 545).

This teaching of Christian Science was overlooked by one who wrote recently: "I can understand how a consciousness of the infinitely perfect power and presence of God does eliminate the sensuous concept of matter,—even physical science leads to this conclusion,—but I cannot understand how a realization of the infinite can in any way dissipate a diseased condition of the body, any more than a normal one, when they are both in the same category, matter and non-existent. It would seem to me that even the slightest consciousness of the infinite would tend to annihilate the whole material structure, and I cannot understand how any one can enlist the divine power to dissipate arbitrarily a part of the material concept and not the whole."

This brother was entirely right in his thought that the belief of physical health is no less opposed to the spiritual concept of being than the belief of physical sickness. "It is as necessary for a health-illusion, as for an illusion of sickness, to be instructed out of itself into the understanding of what constitutes health" (Ibid., p. 297). Nevertheless, of these two it is manifest that the belief of sickness is lower, the more unideal, and hence to be made well physically is a first step out of materiality. Physical health usually presents many more suggestions of that beauty of form, color, etc., which belongs wholly to the manifestations of Mind. Nevertheless, coincident with this health there is the prevailing belief that it pertains to a condition of matter, and escape from this belief becomes the next step up the ladder.

The realization of the power and presence of God does indeed tend to dissipate the whole material structure or sense, and the attainment of health is the first and easiest step in the process, in view of the fact that people do not enjoy sickness, and hence are willing to leave it behind, while the possession of health often means contentment in materiality. To the impotent man Christ Jesus said, "Wilt thou be made whole?" Beyond question this man wanted to be well, but to "be made whole" in the sense which Christian Science attaches to this phrase is not desired by mortals as a class. Christ Jesus helped many, but he lifted no one at once into an ideal state. This comes about only as we are willing to put our feet upon the successive rungs of the ladder, and so ascend every day by the conscious and assertive choice of Truth, by our successive demonstrations over the belief of material selfhood.

Jacob's ladder was noted for its descending as well as its ascending angels, and this points to the fact that the inspirations of Truth are ready to meet us at every stage of our advance. They give right interpretation to experience, and bring us ever increasing assurance and good cheer as we continue to climb. This is one of the perennial joys of all true Christian Scientists, that as they pass from one improved belief to another the way grows ever more luminous, their discernment more clear, because of the unnumbered angels "of his presence" which become their abiding companions.
John B. Willis.

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"THOU SHALT NOT STEAL"
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