Editorial August 16, 1913 Issue

SCIENTIFIC RULES

Annie M. Knott

Throughout Mrs. Eddy's writings we find references to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount which show that she regarded it as basic scientific Christianity, and in the light of Christian Science we discover in this marvelous sermon rules which are of vital importance in the working out of our problems, whether these deal with the healing of sickness or the demonstration of harmony on any other plane of human experience. It should be very clear that we can never advance in any true sense if we rest upon the mere belief that we are safe because we are possibly members of a church, the Christian Science or some other, that we accept unquestioningly the teachings of the Bible, and, if we are Christian Scientists, of Science and Health as well. To be faithful and consistent we must study the rules for Christian living and apply them without reserve in all our human problems.

On page 271 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says: "When the Science of Christianity appears, it will lead you into all truth. The Sermon on the Mount is the essence of this Science, and the eternal life, not the death of Jesus, is its outcome." From these statements by our revered Leader we should see the necessity for laying hold upon eternal life as we read and ponder the words of the Master, found in the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters of Matthew's gospel, especially what are know as the beatitudes, which lift thought above a mortal and material sense of existence up to the spiritual and perfect. As we read, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven," we are apt to shrink from applying these words to ourselves, preferring to relate them to the martyrs of olden time, but we are urged forward by the note of personal appeal,—"Blessed are ye"!

It is not necessary to recount here the various phases of persection indicated; the important thing is the command, "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad," which should at once be recognized as a rule of scientific demonstration that we dare not dismiss as if it were a mere platitude. The Master adds to this command and related promise, "Ye are the salt of the earth: ... Ye are the light of the world," and it is clear that his professed followers will be tested at all points to see whether the salt retains its saltness, and whether the light shines out with added brightness when the test of persecution is being applied. If a sense of persecution dominates one's thought, if it is talked about and dwelt upon, this shows that the scientific rule is being ignored, that darkness is putting out the light,—an impossible thing in Science. We are not to hide the light of Truth and Love under the bushel of belief in the reality and power of evil to harm us. If we do, we will be the first to suffer from the obscuration of this reflected light. The hour of trial is the best time to apply cheerfully, yes, rejoicingly, the rule of Science which requires us to obey every "least" commandment of divine law, knowing that all must be fulfilled; then to let our light so shine that all shall see the light, not the persecution, and see, too, the good works which are its accompaniment,—the healing of disease and the overcoming of sin for ourselves and others.

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