Article June 21, 1913 Issue

"BE THOU FAITHFUL."

W. STUART BOOTH.

Knowing that the body is not the man, and that only that is real which expresses the qualities of Mind, Mrs. Eddy, in the chapter entitled Glossary in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," has resolved not only things, but also men, into thoughts, and the world at large is beginning to acknowledge this truth as elucidated by Christian Science. In the passage referred to we find that fidelity is given as the leading characteristic of Abraham, and as one studies the life of this ancient worthy it is clear that faithfulness to his highest concept of God and God's will was predominant. When he was called to sacrifice his son Isaac, his faithfulness to his highest ideal of God outweighed the claims of self; and when his demonstration in thought was more complete, he was led to look up, and found that his willingness to be obedient to all that was required of him had been a sufficient personal sacrifice. Thus it was that the descendants of Abraham were designated as God's chosen people, not because God had chosen them above others, but because Abraham had chosen God above all else, and had been faithful to his ideal.

The history of the Israelites shows that peace and prosperity attended them when they were faithful to the one God and His law. Their leaders and prophets who most clearly saw the truth and pointed the way for them, were those whose fidelity to God was unshaken by the claims of sense and self, those who resisted the temptations of place and power with the consciousness of God's ominpresence and omnipotence. Moses was faithful; he "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." His fidelity, coupled with humility, made him one of the world's greatest leaders and law-givers.

The fidelity of our great Master, Christ Jesus, was marked even as a boy, when he said to his mother, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" It is not surprising, then, that it was said of him that he "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." From the beginning of his earthly career until his ascension Jesus' fidelity to his high ideal never wavered. He did in a short span of time that which every one must eventually do, namely, put off the false, material sense of self for the spiritual and true. His unfailing success and marvelous spiritual growth were due in large measure to his singleness of purpose, his seeking first, last, and all the time to do the will of the Father who had sent him; in a word, to his fidelity.

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