Editorial February 9, 1918 Issue

Faith, Hope, and Love

Annie M. Knott

One of the most beautiful passages in Paul's writings is to be found in the fifth chapter of his epistle to the Romans, which reads thus: "Hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." This epistle has a good deal to say about faith and hope, and in his first epistle to the Corinthians he tells us that as mortals "we see through a glass, darkly." He does not, however, stop at this but shows the glorious outlook which was sustaining him all the way when he says of the period of fuller unfoldment, "Then shall I know even as also I am known." From this he goes on to tell us of the qualities which sustain us on our way to this goal, namely, "faith, hope, charity," the last being translated as love in the Revised Version. We sometimes hear of those who are without hope, which means that they are without God, but happily many such find their healing in Christian Science and go by the way of hope, faith, and love to the complete realization of God's allness and the real man's likeness to our heavenly Father.

In her memorable address to her college association in 1895, Mrs. Eddy pointed out the aggressive and delusive phases of error which would hold humanity back from the realization of man's divine heritage, then she added: "Thank God! this evil can be resisted by true Christianity. Divine Love is our hope, strength, and shield. We have nothing to fear when Love is at the helm of thought, but everything to enjoy on earth and in heaven" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 113). As we go back to Paul's words already quoted and relate them to those of our revered Leader, they awaken in us a deep desire for the hope that maketh not ashamed and that the love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts. It is very clear to students of Christian Science that in order to realize this in its fullness we must understand what is meant by the Holy Ghost,—the divine influence promised by our Master, who said that after his departure "the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 55): "This Comforter I understand to be Divine Science."

In the book of Proverbs we read that "hope deferred maketh the heart sick." This, however, was not the hope which lays hold upon faith and love, but instead depends upon material evidence, which always disappoints. Because man is a spiritual being, he can only be really satisfied by spiritual things. All Christian people acknowledge the need of faith, and more faith, and yet strange to say many are ashamed to admit that their hope of healing or of any good thing rests solely upon God. Now the kind of hope of which Paul writes makes no one ashamed, because the love of God takes possession of the heart and transforms the whole nature through divine Science, and brings with this transformation the healing of the human mind and body.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

Herod Circumvented