Editorial July 30, 1910 Issue

"DO THYSELF NO HARM."

Annie M. Knott

Paul's counsel to the Philippian jailer, "Do thyself no harm," may be pondered with advantage by most people today. In the 16th chapter of Acts we read that Paul and Silas had been cast into prison for preaching the gospel and healing the sick in accordance with the command of Christ Jesus, also for uncovering and destroying the false belief in sorcery; but, although they had been cruelly beaten by the order of the magistrates, and their feet made "fast in the stocks," they knew better than to harm themselves further by yielding to self-pity or vain regrets. At midnight, when others were asleep, these two men "prayed, and sang praises unto God." Then, we are told, there was "a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed."

This seems wonderful, but it could not well have been otherwise. The entire overturning of mortal belief in the mental experience of Paul and Silas was even more wonderful than the outward occurrences here depicted. Who ever heard of men singing joyfully under such circumstances? Paul explains this, however, when he says, "Our light afflication, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." By looking away from material evidence and lifting thought to spiritual reality they could rejoice in tribulation and prove the all-power of divine Love. Paul was not held down by a narrowing sense of self; he was looking for another opportunity to declare the glorious Truth which had opened the prison doors, and when the terrified jailer was about to kill himself, Paul said to him, "Do thyself no harm." The man responded to this loving appeal, and ere morning he had accepted the Christ-teaching.

Paul's advice to the jailer may well be remembered by us if at any time we are tempted to respond to the beliefs of doubt and fear. There are many who may be said to dwell in the tombs (like one whom Jesus healed), concerning themselves not at all with the living issues of the hour, but instead dwelling upon dead, bygone experiences and, like that unfortunate, cutting and injuring themselves with thoughts which wrongly admit that evil has reality and power. To all such Christian Science says, "Do thyself no harm." It is certain that God never harms any one, and it is equally certain that mortal mind has no power to harm us if we keep close to Truth; then it surely rests upon us that we do ourselves no harm.

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