Article March 4, 1911 Issue

"YEA, YEA; NAY, NAY."

DAISY BEDFORD.

St. Paul has told us he would rather speak five words with his understanding than possess the ability to voice ten thousand words which failed to teach, even though it proved his "gift of tongue." Viewed in the light that Corinth possessed a large mixed population of all nationalities to whom it might have been helpful to speak in their languages, his statement teaches us a much-needed lesson, viz., that if we understand (make a part of us) that which we would impart to others, it will always reach those who need the teaching. Locke gives us the definition of understanding thus: "The perception of the connection or repugnancy, agreement or disagreement, that is between any one of our ideas." Our Master said, "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."

This, then, is the repugnancy or the agreement between the truth and the communication which is made to us, or which we make concerning any subject under discussion. How much trouble, how much suffering would be saved, if only we could remember to guard our words according to this model: Is this in agreement or disagreement with the highest understanding we have of Truth? Nine cases out of ten the conversation would probably come to an abrupt ending, but that would be of small moment. Our Leader has said that "if people would confine their talk to subjects that are profitable, that which St. John informs us took place once in heaven, would happen very frequently on earth,—silence for the space of half an hour" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 339). Imagine the joy of that silence—a silence which speaks of victory, of the controlling of the worst enemy we have—our tongue; a little member, truly, yet capable of all evil,—malice, hatred, and all uncharitableness; these would die of inanition, if only we could dismiss them all with a stern "nay," casting them from us as being unknown to Truth.

How often error is voiced with an apology: "I know this is error," etc., or, "This is not scientific, but——"! Are we obedient followers of our Master when we thus consent to evil speaking? It needs an honest, loving, whole-hearted watchfulness; a being content, if need be, to be hated of the world. But surely this can make no difference to our steady adherence to the right, with our Leader's pure loving example before us. Is not this the keeping unspotted from the world? Christian Science demands absolute self-consecration, which includes likewise the consecration to Truth of every word which proceeds out of our mouth. Dare we, in the face of what it should mean to be called a student of Christian Science, wilfully disobey our Lord's command? This would necessarily entail the constant watchfulness over our thoughts.

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