Good resolutions are always commendable, but until put into practice they weigh little in the scales of progress. The coming of each new year may suggest the turning over of a new leaf and the firm resolution to do better in the future, but until resolve is expressed in action the new leaf really remains unturned. The student of Christian Science well knows that good resolutions are always in order every day of the year, and that the accepted time to live up to them is now; yet this does not prevent his joining the happy throng of those who hail the advent of each new calendar year as a fitting occasion for a modicum of retrospection and sober resolve to bring out a better and happier future. Indeed, the Christian Scientist should welcome this opportunity to take one step higher in the long ascent of human endeavor, and he does so in a very practical way.

A most searching and eminently pertinent question for us all to ask ourselves at this particular time has already been pointed out by our revered Leader on page 496 of the text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." She says: "Ask yourself: Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good?" Here is a question which may well cause us to halt and to engage in prayerful self-examination. It is a direct and positive appeal to our honesty and sincerity as Christian Scientists. There can be no dodging or faltering. We must face the issue manfully and joyfully, let the answer be what it may, for upon it hinges the future destiny of our sacred cause.

What does it mean to be "living the life that approaches the supreme good"? We shall need to rise above sense-testimony in order to answer this question intelligently, since no outward or visible conduct on our part is of itself a sufficient guaranty of a righteous life; for the veriest hypocrite may assume a form of righteousness and yet in thought deny the most vital essentials of a Christian life. That which defiles and defaces the Christ-image within must be reckoned with, if we would arrive at just and accurate conclusions as to our standard of living. The heart must be right, must be pure, else the outward life is a sham and pretense. The Master said: "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man." Here, then, is a mirror into which we can all look for the return of a just verdict, be it "guilty" or "not guilty." If evil, murderous, adulterous thoughts are finding expression through us; if we are giving way to outbursts of uncontrollable temper or are at enmity with our fellow man; if contentious and faultfinding, hypercritical and intolerant,—if any of these errors, or others of a host which could be mentioned, are a part of our daily thinking, we must stand self-condemned, and the verdict of "guilty" cannot be made light of if we would lay claim to the Christian title of consistency.

It is very generally admitted by mankind that they know what they are thinking, but it is a well-established fact in

Christian Science that one who has failed to shut out of consciousness the secret invasions of "aggressive mental suggestion" (Church Manual, Art. VIII, Sect. 6), may unwittingly voice and act out certain conditions of thought which a normal, peaceful, loving mentality would spurn to entertain. The essential mission of Christian Science is to save the individual from any such experience, and it will do so in every instance where love, humility, and unselfishness are stationed as sentinels at the door of consciousness. If selfishness, dissatisfaction, personal criticism, or kindred errors are entertained, these only serve as an opening wedge for the further intrusion of more aggressive phases of evil which would obstruct or crucify the Christ-idea. This phase of mental aberration is mentioned in explanation of the fact that it is possible for one to imagine that he is living a Christian life when in actuality he is manifesting anything but love and a sound mentality. Some rude awakening may arouse such a dreamer, and then he faces about, resolved to return to his Father's house, whether the journey seem long or short.

According to Bible teaching one might have faith to remove mountains, and yet if without love he would be counted as nothing. This proves that one cannot judge by the appearance, but only according to the fruits of righteousness. A righteous work means vastly more than the disappearing of some physical malady, for this of itself may or may not be a true sign of the Christ-healing. That moral and spiritual transformation of thought which extirpates sin,—those things which defile a man,—this is the proof from on high that one is living the life of a consecrated Christian Scientist.

The standard of Christian Science is a high one,—too high for mortal attainment. The old man of sin (the belief that man is mortal) must be put off, and the new man (the understanding of man's spiritual unity with God) must be put on through righteous thinking and living, before the Christ standard of perfection can be brought out in scientific demonstration. A radical purification of thought as an essential of right living cannot be overlooked by any student of Christian Science, and the sooner he reaches the place where he knows that no other can do his thinking or Christlike living for him, the sooner will he be able to protect his mental abode from the wilful aggressiveness of personal domination, and to live above the demoralizing demands of the senses. If any of us have not yet reached this mental height, it behooves us to resolve at once to do so, without waiting for the ringing out of the old and the ringing in of the new year. God's day is the ever-present now, and it is the only time any of us will ever have in which to put resolve into action. A firm resolution to do what is right is good; to live up to it is still better; to let others do the same, unmolested by the plague-spots of envy, jealousy, and hatred, is best of all, for it is the acme of Christlike humility, forgiveness, and consistency.

It is safe to say that all Christian Scientists who will take the time to make an inventory of their mental possessions, will uniformly acknowledge the need of more brotherly love and kindly Christian demeanor one toward another. If they will then resolve to express this love and consideration toward all mankind, and will relegate to the silent chambers of a forgotten past all of the petty jealousies and contentions which have tried to rend the ties of true human friendship and to separate them from their common parent, divine Love, they will find no obstacles in the way of their becoming normal, loving, joyous, genuine Christian Scientists, brothers and sisters of one holy household. What a loving New Year's contribution this would be to the world's present meager supply of "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost"!

Copyright, 1914, by The Christian Science Publishing Society