Editorial November 17, 1917 Issue

Come unto me"

William D. McCrackan

The words which form the title of this editorial have rung in the ears of Christendom since they became public in the sacred writings. An infinity of comfort, protection, compassion, and surcease from sorrow radiates from them. Obeyed and understood they save and heal the individual, sow the ground and gather the spiritual harvest, solve the perplexities of nations and hemispheres, open the seven seals of error and explode the hidden mines of evil's intent. Acting upon the call contained in these words the scientific Christian is ready to face the world, the flesh, and the devil, and to see their nothingness.

The reason why these words have not long since established the religious, social, political, and economic millennium on earth is that they have not been properly interpreted. Scholastic theology, which constantly errs by taking the letter and mistaking the significance of things spiritual, centuries ago gave these words the fatal personal twist which robbed them of their saving power and nailed them to a doctrinal platform on which is also written the misconception that Jesus claimed for himself that he was God. Thus the depth of nourishing compassion which the great Master put into these words was neutralized by the mistake which the pride of priesthood insisted upon associating with his human personality. It suffices to tell the receptive thought that Jesus himself never made the claim which mistaken theology has forced upon him, but that he called himself "the Son of God." The very words in Matthews's gospel which precede those which are here under consideration refute this error, for we read: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

Who or what, then, was this "me," this refuge for the weary? Was it the human personality of Jesus which was empowered to give rest to those "that labour and are heavy laden"? If that had been the case the hope of mankind must have disappeared at his ascension. Christian Science shows conclusively that the divine solace contained in Jesus' words sprang from his inseparable unity with the Christ, the Truth which makes free, which renders the yoke of obedience easy and the burden of spiritual power light. Jesus' own human burden proved to be inexpressibly heavy; he could not have urged others to find solace in his own personal experience, but he invited the spiritually minded everywhere and for all time to come unto the Christ, whose activities are perpetually light and easy in Truth. Mrs. Eddy, speaking of the human Jesus' atonement, has said: "The burden of that hour was terrible beyond human conception. The distrust of mortal minds, disbelieving the purpose of his mission, was a million times sharper than the thorns which pierced his flesh. The real cross, which Jesus bore up the hill of grief, was the world's hatred of Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 50).

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