Article July 2, 1921 Issue

Judgment Laid to the Line

EDWARD NASH

The writers of the Old Testament books were fond of referring to the art of building as a symbol for mental construction because it is one which could be easily understood, very simple but very permanent in its character, and one which requires accuracy of measurement and careful and correct judgment in its early stages. If the foundation is true the rest is not difficult. In Isaiah we read: "Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation. ... Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet." The method of building is exactly the same to-day as it was when Isaiah wrote. The corner stone, after being carefully squared, is well and truly laid, often with ceremony, and from this stone horizontal and vertical lines are streched to which all other stones are adjusted. In metaphysical building of spiritual concepts the method is exactly similar. The builder begins with the true concept of man as the reflection or expression of God, the perfect man, the Christ. Jesus said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." With this corner stone the mental builder can lay out his lines; and, as long as his judgment and his righteousness or right thinking are laid to these lines, his building is sure to be upright and true.

To-day, when the world seems to be convulsed with discord; when selfishness, intemperance, and injustice seem to abound; when human will power seeks to dominate and control, the student of Christian Science is glad to be able to turn to his Bible and to the loving words of Mrs. Eddy, whose gentle admonitions help him to stem the tide of division and unrest. On page 206 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy writes, "The power of the human will should be exercised only in subordination to Truth; else it will misguide the judgment and free the lower propensities," and in the following paragraph she declares emphatically: "Will-power is capable of all evil." Now the Christian Scientist is called upon daily to exercise judgment, and in that way he is building. His building will be good and stable just so far as he takes direction and measurement from the "precious corner stone," lays his judgment "to the line," and his right thinking "to the plummet."

What Jesus taught above all things was reliance on Principle in every kind of difficulty. He did not pretend to exercise any power of his own. All his mighty works were ascribed to the Father, and he taught his disciples to do the same works in the same way. He disregarded material personality in which others saw sin and disease, and saw in place of the error which had to be destroyed, the true, spiritual idea. He disregarded all material laws and recognized nothing but the unceasing law of spiritual activity, Life, and the eternal law of sustenance and protection, Love. He proved the false law of limitation to be nothing to him when he fed the five thousand, and the universally accepted law of gravity to be nothing to him when he walked on the water. But he subjected himself to law and taught his followers obedience. If now we follow the Master and consider each problem in the way that he would have considered it we shall start with a sure foundation; then, recognizing that all intelligent action is the outcome of one Mind, God, we cannot fail in the exercise of judgment.

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