Article May 6, 1911 Issue

INDIVIDUAL APPROPRIATION

VIOLET KER SEYMER

The injunction in Hebrews, that we "lay hold upon the hope set before us," implies the necessity for mentally grasping, appropriating, and applying those blessings which the one Spirit is constantly revealing to the pure in heart and to the needy. While revelation itself is divine, the appropriation of it must needs be humanly individual and constantly progressive. In the early centuries of the Christian era, wonders were wrought in the name of God through His enlightened witnesses. Later on, notwithstanding the fact that Truth had lost none of its potency, the works diminished because the individual appropriation of spiritual facts had practically given way to materialism and ecclesiasticism. The reason and the remedy for this falling-off is indicated in the experience of Christian Scientists, who one and all find, sooner or later, that each must work out his own salvation and exchange an attitude of passive acceptance of the truth for one of active and earnest demonstration.

Divine Mind is ceaselessly imparting blessings, and humanity is waking up to receive them in proportion as it takes to heart Mrs. Eddy's statement that "the Scriptures require more than a simple admission and feeble acceptance of the truths they present" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 197). Suppose a person were struggling in the midst of turbulent waters and a life-belt with a rope attached were thrown out: the drowning man could not be hauled ashore unless he did his part in tenaciously keeping hold of the belt. He would gain nothing by arguing that the waves were very big, or the land a long way off. So, too, the one to whom the ministrations of Christian Science are offered must cease to argue against his own interests, and hold faithfully to the truth, or as much as he apprehends of it, in order that progressive demonstrations may be made and his individual heaven attained.

In his interpretation of the vision Daniel exposes the supposititious boast of error which claims to "speak great words against the most High" which "shall wear out the saints of the most High." Evil is but an argument, whereas true thoughts are substance, having divine Mind as their authority. Seeming threats, masquerading as medical laws, hereditary traits, and other forms of discordant beliefs, are vain falsities, fit only to be disbelieved. On the other hand, every divine promise is sustained by the one Mind whence emanates it. Possibly the forty days in the wilderness may have seemed long to Jesus, yet one after the other every false argument was silenced, and finally "angels came and ministered unto him." These divine thoughts were present all the time; indeed, they alone were truly present from first to last, since God is All-in-all. Truth imparts to each faithful witness its own vigorous tenacity, and therefore persistence and scientific perseverance on the human side are bound to win the day. Since Truth cannot possibly give way to delusion then delusion must give way before Truth and to that individual who is trusting to his declaration of Truth.

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