Article December 14, 1912 Issue

REJOICING RATHER IN THE TRUTH

ALFRED FARLOW.

THE Master of Christianity, on an occasion of a successful demonstration of Truth's power over error, said to his disciples: "Rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven;" meaning undoubtedly that whatever of joy may be afforded the disciple of Truth through any triumph, should rest upon the eternal Science of being which has brought about the result. and that he should refrain from expressing satisfaction over the subjugation of an enemy.

A righteous triumph can be effected in no other way than by the power of omnipotent good, the understanding that good is the only real power, and such a triumph must depend upon this same understanding for its continuance. Thus, we note that although on a given occasion we may have gained a legitimate victory, it is necessary to continue in well-doing in order to hold the vantage-point thus gained. St. Paul advised our "forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before." If an individual has gained a victory over sin in himself, the permanency of that victory is assured by the spiritual strength which is referred to by the psalmist when he said, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." To look back in a manner which continues to give power to that which has enslaved us in the past, is to renew, in a degree at least, the power of evil over us; hence the importance, when a victory has been gained, of standing our ground, of holding steadfastly to the reality of truth which has enabled us to win the victory.

What is said of the individual with equal propriety may be said of the church. If an organization has been enabled to purge itself of unscientific and unchristian methods which it may have ignorantly entertained, it cannot afford, by overmuch discussion of the things which have been left behind, nor by a continued reference to the persons who have been concerned therewith, to weaken its opportunities of maintaining the advantage which it has gained. Having done its "weeding," as well as its "planting and watering," the church can well afford to leave its increase to God, and those who have been subject to discipline to the judgment and guidance of divine Love.

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