St. Paul said, "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." This means that in his struggle to arrive at proper conclusions and practices one should be allowed the freedom of untrammeled individuality. He should be permitted to rely exclusively on divine guidance,—not a mere choice of his own will as distinctive from the will of others, but in keeping with the Scriptural text, "Thy will be done."

Numerous instances in the life of Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, demonstrate the fact that an unselfish and implicit reliance upon divine Mind insures a guidance which is far superior to one's own conviction of the right course. She was constantly being led into decisions and actions, not knowing at the time why, although discovering later the wisdom of the course.

All honest Christian Scientists and all well meaning religionists have proved this point in some degree. The chief benefit to the every-day life of a Christian Scientists is the intelligent guidance in human affairs which he gains by his faith in the allness of God; not faith in a new God, but in the God of our fathers, "the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob," intensified through the understanding of Truth which Christian Science brings. One has considerable faith in a man who is well recommended by others, but his faith is largely increased if upon acquaintance the man measures up to the reputation he bears.

Christian Science increases our acquaintance with God. It affords a knowledge of the nature and essence of Deity; it broadens and clarifies our understanding of infinite Spirit, and enables us to know why God is trustworthy. The commotion and strife and conflict of the world are due to conflicting human opinions. Men are afraid of one another, and as a consequence nations are afraid of one another, because of the conflicting selfish desires and inclinations which are extant. The fear and consequent strife of the individual abate in the ratio of his reliance upon God; and in keeping with this, mankind in general will cease from conflict as they improve their understanding of God and deport themselves accordingly.

Christian Scientists have sometimes been criticized because they do not make a greater effort to urge the afflicted to have Christian Science treatment, or because they do not solicit members for the Christian Science church. Any strenuous efforts along these lines would be unwarranted in true Christian Science practice, while a modest invitation, courteously calling a neighbor's attention to that which cannot fail to benefit him, might be in order. An effort to argue the question with him might constitute an intrusion, a trespass upon his rights of conscience, an injection of human will which would interfere with the quiet, peaceful, uninterrupted development of wisdom in the individual. It is for this reason that the thoughtful Christian Scientist gives to his patient the unrestrained privilege of discontinuing as well as soliciting treatment; and while we consider church organization a present necessity, the Christian Science denomination concedes to beneficiaries the unmolested privilege of choosing their own time for identifying themselves with the church. When he crucifies every inclination or desire to interfere in his neighbor's affairs without being invited to do so, the would-be meddler gains quite as much as the person with whom he would meddle. No one can win his own immunity from trespasses unless he ceases to be a trespasser; hence the virtue of the Master's words, "If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 303) Mrs. Eddy says, "Knock instead of push at the door of human hearts." No one who has not already learned to withhold his own hands can consistently or effectively say "Hands off" to his neighbor. No one who violates this understanding by assuming a will of his own and then intruding it upon his neighbor, can win the divine protection which is vouchsafed by the understanding that there is only one Mind. Thus it may be noted that only the consistent, modest Christian Scientist can win a sufficient realization of the divine presence to merit his own security. The surprising fear which even Christian Scientists sometimes appear to entertain for one another, and the mental commotion and discord which follow, would cease if Christian Scientists were consistent with their teaching and thereby had grace sufficient to be modest and observe the golden rule. In "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 279) Mrs. Eddy says, "The Principle of Christian Science demonstrates peace."

A much discussed question at the present time is as to whether war between nations is ever a necessity. We cast our lot on the negative side of this question; but whatever may be said on the subject, we believe the time has arrived when Christian Scientists and all religionists who believe in a God of love can eliminate strife and contention from their own lives, and the belligerent spirit thus silenced in the individual would of course be absent from the multitude. We would all do well to ponder the old adage "Live and let live." After all, none of us is very much wiser than his neighbor, and certainly not wise enough to assume the stupendous responsibility of guiding his neighbor's affairs. However, the question is not as to likes and dislikes, but as to what constitutes scientific practice, which alone insures the development of one's spiritual understanding.

One cannot advance in the realization that there is but one power while acting as though he believed there were minds many. One might temporarily beat his way by sheer force of human will, but in the long run he would be humiliated with the discovery that he has lost, not gained, in his apparent achievement. Success in a wrong line leads away from the right course, and necessitates the retracing of one's steps, thereby involving a loss of time. The more one relies on the belief in human will, the more surely will he miss his goal, since growth in the realization that there is but one power is contingent upon practice consistent with such an understanding.

In Science and Health we read (p. 480), "When the substance of Spirit appears in Christian Science, the nothingness of matter is recognized." When we claim no other Mind but God and live accordingly, we grow in the realization of this fact, and consequently in the consciousness of the unreality of error or belief in human force. The power of truth takes effect in human consciousness as one learns to believe it and to demonstrate it by constant practice. That which we have most in consciousness, and which governs our deportment, must of necessity be most real to us; hence practice consistent with the proposition that there is but one Mind is not a mere matter of human choice, but of necessity. If we fail to conform our lives to that which Christian Science inculcates, we forfeit our opportunity for advancement.

The Bible teaches, "Blessed are they that do his commandments." There is no promise to those who know and do not. "Faith without works is dead." He who works not according to his faith, not only loses his demonstration but his faith also. A new-born belief brings refreshment with it, but like the manna of old it will spoil on our hands and disintegrate if not eaten up and digested by such practice as will enable us to assimilate the truth from which it springs and make it a part of ourselves,—our very own.

Copyright, 1915, by The Christian Science Publishing Society