Editorial July 1, 1911 Issue

DIVINE JUSTICE

Annie M. Knott

Long years ago, Moses wrote in his immortal song this characterization of the most High: "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: ... a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." Later, the psalmist declared, "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne,"—a truth which can never be lost sight of in Christian Science. If God could ever be less than just, then were our case indeed hopeless, since we so often find that mortal man must needs rise out of himself in order to learn what justice means. In mortal experience there are, unfortunately, those who do not know that justice is the true foundation of happiness and prosperity, and who do not hesitate to break the commandments in order to advance self-interest in every direction. Again, there are those who have a wholesome respect for God's law, and who strive to be just in their dealings with their fellow-men, who yet question divine justice, because to the material sense of things evil ofttimes seems to prevail and the self-seeker to prosper. It is hardly necessary to explain that neither of these mental conditions comes up to the spiritually scientific standard of right thinking, which requires us to look above sense evidence to the spiritual fact, in order to reach right conclusions and attain to harmonious living.

At this point it is well to ponder Mrs. Eddy's statement, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence" (Science and Health, p. 492). Lest this should seem too abstract, let the one who strives to be just, but who seems to suffer from injustice, ask himself whether he would be willing to exchange places with any of those who appear to prosper through wrong-doing. He would undoubtedly say, "No," and why? Would it not be because he instinctively felt that justice, which is a spiritual quality, is far too precious to be sacrificed for any material consideration whatever? This being admitted, all problems must be reasoned out and worked out on the basis of the spiritual fact. No one can rob a man of the justice which he has made his own, which is, so to speak, enthroned in his consciousness. In vain are fire and fagot,—all the assaults of mortal error against this citadel.

Christian Science, however, does wonders in proving the omnipotence of divine justice in ameliorating human conditions. Take, for example, the case of one who has been ill for years, held down by belief in some supposed law of disease, which he has been taught to believe has divine authority. He, very naturally, questions the justice of God, and the sorrow of so doing adds to his suffering, for an unjust God would be no God, hence his distress. Then comes Christian Science, to assure him with the spiritual fact that God never made nor authorized any law of evil,—disease or sin. Accepting this, he finds a God whom he can love and trust even for his healing, and healing follows the recognition of spiritual law, which is inseparable from justice.

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