Editorial November 6, 1915 Issue

"Out of the depths"

John B. Willis

No one can familiarize himself with the book of Isaiah without being impressed that he has come into touch with a man of remarkable vision, one whose spiritual intuition was no less authoritative than rare. He had a comprehensive mental grasp of the problems of a race, and with prophetic exaltation and triumph of thought he portrayed the human status, and in a burst of glowing appeal called thrillingly to his people, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." He was acquainted with the whole gamut of material ambition, pride, impulse, and asserted power, could speak knowingly of the burden of Tyre, of Babylon, and of Egypt, and name all the woes that attend the transgression of divine law.

Moreover, this prophet knew the source and power of the redemptive light which had already dawned upon his east, its ability to dispel every darkness of human sense, and so could comfort and inspire all the children of sorrow and of want. Voicing the word of Truth, he could say to the fearful and discouraged, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." His attitude toward every condition of afflicted sense witnesses to his clear realization of that truth supreme, enunciated by Mrs. Eddy when she writes, "God is at once the center and circumference of being" (Science and Health, p. 203), and here he based his word of gladdening assurance for those whose feet had reached the level of despair.

"Who is among you," the prophet cried, "that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God." These wondrous words bring vividly to remembrance the seemingly inexplicable fact that today there are those who, though God-fearing and obedient so far as they are conscious of their own purpose and desire, find themselves submerged, to human sense, in a sea of suffering, in a darkness that knows no light. "Out of the depths" there is sometimes heard again the agonizing cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" and for many this is the supreme test of faith.

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