Article June 12, 1915 Issue

"Not as the world giveth"

IRVING C. TOMLINSON, M.A.

One of the Master's most precious promises was expressed in the familiar words, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." It is to be observed that Jesus intimates there is a kind of peace which the world gives, but that the peace which he bestows is of a very different type. A year ago there was so-called peace in Europe, but it was the peace of the world, and not the peace of Christ. It is described by the prophet's words, "Peace, peace; when there is no peace." The apparent calm in men's lives is frequently the outcome of fear, and war measures are restrained only because of superior opposing forces. There is a seeming bodily peace of like nature which is brought about by the use of drugs or human will-power. This is indeed "no peace," because it is neither permanent nor true, and it must be supplanted by the harmony which Christ alone bestows. Materialistic peace (the phrase itself a misnomer) is confusion, latent or otherwise. The true remedy for all war is that given on page 329 of Science and Health: "If men understood their real spiritual source to be all blessedness, they would struggle for recourse to the spiritual and be at peace."

How deplorably evident it is that much of the peace which has been proclaimed in the past was no peace at all. Efforts have been made to accomplish freedom from war through measures of suppression. In an address on "Universal Peace," Talcott Williams of Columbia University says: "The only necessary thing in the world is righteousness, and the reason why deep down in the consciousness of men there rests, unshaken and unchallenged, the conviction that international peace is not for our day, is because international righteousness does not exist in our day. World peace can only come through world righteousness. The world will never become righteous through peace—peace can only come through righteousness. Peace is only the visible sign of righteousness."

It has been said that all evil tendencies must be subdued and chastened, lest punishment should follow (a wrong motive); and instead of freedom there has often been slavery and bondage to fear or to a superior human will-power. The Christ-way is a better way, for the freedom and harmony which he bestows is the outcome of expression and not suppression. The Master would have all mankind enjoy a rightful peace through manifestation of the best and noblest qualities, and he would have them dwell in thought, not upon the so-called "balance of power," but upon the beneficent power of infinite good. He would have each one know himself as the child of God, the Christ-man seeking to express the divine ideal which is incarnate in every man. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden," is his loving invitation, "and I will give you rest." This promised rest comes from knowing the truth, from understanding spiritual realities, so that one may be ever ready to respond to these inspiring words of the Master, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

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"Not as the world giveth"

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