Editorial March 27, 1915 Issue

"He doeth the works"

Archibald Mclellan

In the Sermon on the Mount, that epitome of divine instruction which is the "essence" (Science and Health, p. 271) of Christian Science, Jesus said to his followers: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." It will be noted that Jesus did not say, Glorify your own selves, but "Glorify your Father which is in heaven." In making this distinction as to whom the glory belonged, Jesus did not detract in the slightest degree from the honor of those who were doing the works of the Father. He simply pointed out to the disciples that in the last analysis it is the Father who "doeth the works," even though these works are made manifest through the faithfulness and consecration of some particular individual.

The very great difference between Christian Science and all other forms of Christianity is, that in the former the works which our Master said should follow "them that believe," are insisted upon as the true signs of that knowledge, that understanding of God which the Master declared is "life eternal." These signs necessarily must be seen through the works of men, in the healing of the sick, in the transformation of the sinning and the selfish, in the comforting of them that mourn; but there should be no mistake about their origin and the real power behind them.

A leading point in Christian Science is that man has no underived powers; he is, as the record of creation declares him to be, made in the image and likeness of God; he reflects the wisdom, power, and love of the Father. Mrs. Eddy in her definition of man, on page 475 of Science and Health, says that he is "that which has no separate mind from God; . . . that which possesses no life, intelligence, nor creative power of his own, but reflects spiritually all that belongs to his Maker." It is in this sense, this recognition of God as the only creator and from whom all right action springs, that Christian Scientists know that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

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