Article July 28, 1917 Issue

Heavenly Joy

CHARLES H. RING

To many the statement made by St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians, "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake," is "an hard saying." Any attempt to understand and emulate this attitude of St. Paul from the basis of belief in the reality of both good and evil, both Spirit and matter, must prove abortive, and may lead to hypocrisy and self-seeking martyrdom. No matter how earnestly one may believe such experiences to be God sent, and therefore for the best; no matter how fervently he may pray, "Not my will, but thine, be done," he will find it difficult to say honestly that he takes pleasure in them.

Jesus warned his disciples that in the world they would have tribulation, and Mrs. Eddy states that "Jesus spares us not one individual experience, if we follow his commands faithfully" (Science and Health, p. 26). Inasmuch as the trials enumerated above unquestionably face us in the world, it is plain that whatever will enable one truly to "take pleasure" in them, as did St. Paul, is a priceless boon. That the teachings of Christian Science, understood and demonstrated, enable one to do this, has been abundantly proven in the life of our revered Leader, and may be proven by her every faithful follower.

The teaching of Christian Science that God is infinite Spirit, Mind, and man His infinite idea, discloses the falsity of every claim of matter and evil to existence and power. The student of Christian Science learns that the divine demand, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect," implies that the consciousness which is man must be and is as free from evil and material belief as the consciousness which is God. In illustrating this likeness of man to God, Mrs. Eddy says: "Now compare man before the mirror to his divine Principle, God. Call the mirror divine Science, and call man the reflection. Then note how true, according to Christian Science, is the reflection to its original. As the reflection of yourself appears in the mirror, so you, being spiritual, are the reflection of God" (Science and Health, p. 515).

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