Article February 24, 1917 Issue

Appeal to Divine Justice

W. STUART BOOTH

Our mental attitude toward the varied problems arising in daily experience, our thought regarding their apparent causes and probable effects, determine the results. Our happiness depends not so much upon what does or does not come in the way of trial and temptation, as upon our attitude toward these experiences; and it is for each one to decide whether they shall be stumbling-blocks or stepping-stones. Jesus was "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," owing to his correct attitude toward these temptations.

Prior to the entrance of Christian Science into one's thought there is usually a firm belief in the reality and inevitableness of evil, manifest as sin and sickness, want and woe, separation and sorrow. This disheartening belief presents what seem to be strong credentials in support of its claims, which are based always upon the evidence of the so-called material senses. The universal hope of deliverance from discord and evil has been directed to material medicine on the one hand and scholastic theology on the other, receiving from the one such meager encouragement as the constantly shifting medical theories have to offer, and from the other a promise of a problematical post mortem heaven.

This surely is not in accord with God's will, if we are to take the master Christian at his word and judge his teaching by his works; for he not only healed all manner of sickness, set free those bound by the belief in sin and fear of it, and raised the dead to life, all by spiritual means alone, but said emphatically that this fruitage should be the reward of all who believed on him,—who understood his teachings. He overcame sin and sickness by recognizing their unreal origin.

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