Article August 16, 1913 Issue

GLORIFYING GOD

FRANCES M. GORRELL.

As we read several accounts of Jesus' healing work, we note that many of them close with the words, "and they glorified God." Then, in the incidents connected with these so-called miracles, we find that Jesus charged the people over and over again to tell no man what had been done for them; but Mark tells us that the more Jesus charged them that they should tell no man, "so much the more a great deal they published it; ... saying, He hath done all things well." In one instance we read of a man who was so filled with love and gratitude to the Master for the healing which had come to him, that he wanted to go with Jesus wherever he went, but his entreaty was met by the words, "Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee."

One sometimes yields to the temptation to talk Christian Science when it would be wiser to follow Jesus' command to return to his own house, his own consciousness, and by removing therefrom all envy, jealousy, fear, and other material beliefs, show what great things Christian Sceience has done for him. On the other hand, Mrs. Eddy tells us in the "Manual of The Mother Church": "Testimony in regard to the healing of the sick is highly important. More than a mere rehearsal of blessings, it scales the pinnacle of praise and illustrates the demonstration of Christ" (p. 47). Veritably we need to be as "wise as serpents," and not otherwise will we be saved from the experience of having our pearls of truth trodden under foot. In order to glorify God one must love Him supremely, be ever conscious of His power and goodness, and make large room for the thought of His allness. When we make a business of glorifying God, there will be no time for self-justification, self-righteousness, or self-pity.

"And they glorified God." Not all received the healing; for many were unable even to see or hear Jesus; but Luke, in his account of the healing of the blind man, says, "All the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God." And this is our privilege in Christian Science. It may be that we have not yet realized the healing for which we have been watching and praying, but there is always the opportunity to praise God for the freedom and joy which the healing of another has brought. In that wonderful fifteenth chapter of St. John, Jesus gave a definite rule for glorifying God in these words: "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit." Good fruit is produced only by much thought, constant care, and many times it is necessary to prune closely. The result of all this is not seen at once, but we know that when the work has been faithfully and intelligently done the fruit will appear sometime.

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