"Ask of God"

Archibald McLellan

We have been asked to republish an editorial which appeared under the above title in the Sentinel of Oct. 14, 1911, and this we are glad to do. Mrs. Eddy has taught us in Science and Health and her other writings how we may "ask of God," and we cannot be too often reminded that this is the one thing which Christian Scientists should do in every time of need. The editorial was as follows:—

As we study the writings of Mrs. Eddy we cannot fail to note that she is continually admonishing Christian Scientists to turn to God, to seek divine guidance in each and every problem that presents itself, rather than to depend upon fallible human personality. This divine guidance is what she ever sought for herself,—she could say with the psalmist, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."

It was, therefore, but consistent with Mrs. Eddy's own practise and faith, when her students, recognizing in her the one who had set their feet in the heavenly way, sought to make her their conscience, to place upon her the burden of decision as to the right or wrong of any question, that she should remind them of the counsel of St. James: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him;" that she should strive to turn their gaze heavenward, to seek of God.

It seems, sometimes, that we must talk over our own particular perplexities with some one else, but he is our true friend who points us rather to the infiniteness of divine wisdom; that there is no problem that can confront Christian Scientists which is not possible of solution through the turning to divine Mind, the unchanging God whose ear is ever open to them that put their trust in Him, who ask aright, "nothing wavering." Where we are most likely to err is in thinking that it is only when sickness and sin beset us that we have any need to "ask of God;" but the same Principle that heals and saves is equally applicable, equally available for the solution of the problems which come to those who feel themselves responsible for the proper conduct of their local church affairs, yet make the mistake of leaning upon mortal judgment rather than omniscient and omnipotent Mind.

There is, however, one important and essential factor in this turning with our every need to Him who is Life, Truth, and Love, and that is that we must seek Him, as the Master declared, "in spirit and in truth;" must recognize that God is Spirit and that His creation is spiritual and good only. We read in Science and Health (p. 13): "If we pray to God as a corporeal person, this will prevent us from relinquishing the human doubts and fears which attend such a belief, and so we cannot grasp the wonders wrought by infinite, incorporeal Love, to whom all things are possible." We must know that true prayer, as taught in the chapter on that subject in Science and Health, is efficacious for our every need, that the Principle of Christian is illimitalbe and unchanging, and thus realize that harmony to which we are entitled. We must demonstrate the supreme power of omnipotent Mind in all our affairs, also that God is not a respecter of persons and that He is revealed to those who seek Him aright, who do not ask amiss.

If, on the contrary, we depend upon human opinions and advice as guides to our actions and to bring about harmony in our affairs, we lose opportunities to prove the omnipotence of God. Like the disciples we may toil all night fruitlessly, be tossed hither and thither on the restless, ever-changing sea of mortal theories, until the dawn breaks and we hear the Christ bidding us, "Launch out into the deep." If we heed his command, cast aside the material dependences and conflicting human opinions that have profited us nothing, put our trust wholly in Him who is able to save even to the uttermost, without whom not a sparrow falleth, we shall not find our confidence misplaced. We shall know of a surety that God, good, alone governs, and the problems that have so perplexed us in the darkness of doubt and despair will have found their only possible solution in the clear light of unerring wisdom.

Archibald McLellan.

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