Editorial April 9, 1921 Issue

The Law-Abiding Citizen

Gustavus S. Paine

The orderly expression of divine Principle is spiritual law. All true activity, therefore, operates as genuine law in perfect harmony. Necessarily the spiritual idea in Mind is orderly. True cause and effect cooperate in thorough concord. Christian Science reveals that this concord is the verity of immortal existence now and always. The real man, as spiritual idea, is orderly and harmonious because his whole being is in accord with Principle. Hence the real man is law-abiding in the best sense of the term. Immortal man simply continues to live forever in harmony with divine intelligence. Divine intelligence, or Principle, creates and maintains spiritual law and order. The infinity of divine intelligence unfolds, of course, as all the growth that is real. On page 206 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy says, "Growth is governed by intelligence; by the active, all-wise, law-creating, law-disciplining, law-abiding Principle, God."

For progress in the study of Christian Science, one must turn continually to the divine Mind and its spiritual law. Healing in Christian Science is the process by which human beliefs, limitations, and discords are replaced with divine order. The basic point to understand is that infinite Principle governs the real man and produces only right activity. This is the ideal and real government. Each one is entitled to demonstrate that this is the fact for himself. All of Mrs. Eddy's writings show to the seeker the way to demonstrate this truth.

In this connection it is interesting to read Article VIII, Section 26, entitled "Uncharitable Publications," in the Manual. Here Mrs. Eddy says: "A member of this Church shall not publish, nor cause to be published, an article that is uncharitable or impertinent towards religion, medicine, the courts, or the laws of our land." What are called national or state laws represent the attempt of each commonwealth to arrange activity harmoniously. The demonstration of Christian Science can in no way interfere with the public welfare. Indeed, Christian Science is revealing to the world the true Principle of welfare. As Mrs. Eddy says on page 87 of "Retrospection and Introspection," "Genuine Christian Scientists are, or should be, the most systematic and law-abiding people on earth, because their religion demands implicit adherence to fixed rules, in the orderly demonstration thereof."

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