Editorial September 29, 1917 Issue

Principle Our Omnipresent Guide

William P. McKenzie

To Christian Scientists the word Principle expresses the truth that "God is infinite person," unlimited in knowledge and goodness, as the textbook states. Again it says: "God is Love. He is therefore the divine, infinite Principle, called Person or God" (Science and Health, pp. 116, 302). If we once thought we could work secretly in the chambers of our imagery for six days in the week, and that our mundane or selfish thinking could be covered from sight by a parade of righteousness on the seventh day, all this willful deception disappeared with the first gleam of understanding that God is Principle.

Some complain that this word Principle expresses to them something cold, searching, relentless; but with any actual demonstration of healing comes assurance that Principle means comfort, resource, reliance,—the warmth of Life, the joy of righteousness. It means heaven brought nigh when the discovery is made that Principle guides man omnipresently, that is, guides his every step heavenward. The Scripture describes this exactly: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way."

Formerly men were accustomed to think of God as so personal that there were limits to the divine understanding, such limits that He must of necessity judge according to appearance. If, for instance, He demanded the acclamation of praise, hearing the loud-throated acclaim of the multitude He could not be aware of the wandering thoughts of an individual devotee. If He demanded a fast, He could be pleased if one, although feasting secretly, so disfigured his face that he appeared unto men to be fasting. If He required prayer, the fragrant odor of clouds of incense rising would satisfy, instead of the heart's meekness and the purification of desire; or long and ostentatious verbal prayers could create a favorable impression and be the cover for secret iniquity. In other words, the inevitable result of holding a personal sense of God is Pharisaism, which Jesus most emphatically condemned as being a woe to man, not a blessing. He said: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation."

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