Article September 7, 1912 Issue

"THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST."

VIRGINIA C. CHINN.

What is it to remain? In Webster we find the following definitions: "To be left after others have been removed or destroyed; to continue unchanged in place, form, or condition, or undiminished in quantity; to abide, etc." Some one has said that meditation is silence "healing the blows of sound." The Christian Science prayer of realization which heals is really that keeping silence before God in which we become conscious of rest, peace, joy, and light; in His presence there is no noise, no conflict, no pain.

How often is the "gentle presence, peace and joy and power" of which our Leader has written (Poems, p. 4), manifest in the silencing of mortal errors. These may seem so frequent and noisy as for a time almost to deafen us, yet error is finite and unreal and the "rest" remains. Emerson has said, "It is only the finite which has wrought and suffered, the infinite lies stretched in smiling repose;" and with a clear vision of the allness of God, Mrs. Eddy has triumphantly declared that "there is no finite soul nor spirit" (Science and Health, p. 466). The infinite idea which expresses God, rests in "the beauty of holiness," secure in the truth of being. The dictionary gives this definition of infinite, among others: "Unlimited in time or space." There can be no finite sense in the Science of being. What if discords do arise, again and again? We know that they will be silenced by the presence of God. Have we not the assurance, "My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest"?

This truth that man is the image and likeness of God, infinite Spirit, and therefore reflects that "peace of God, which passeth all understanding," that he reflects health, wholeness, harmony, perfection, that the kingdom of heaven is within man,—this truth remains and is the rest into which no error can ever enter. After all the pains and troubles of mortal consciousness have passed away, this rest remains as man's everlasting possession. This consciousness gives us courage to stand and face every phase of error which may present itself. We can say to it in the words of our Master, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." The real man was never conscious of the errors, the discords, since man's consciousness is the reflection of God. We may therefore turn to Truth, and to the angel messengers ever near with healing in their wing's, and open the door, saying, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." And lo, in the quiet we will hear the "multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

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