Peace and Uplift

FREDERICK P. BAILEY

If the world's movements are to be forward and not backward, upward and not downward, certain elements of thought must be won and increased. Not the least in value is the elevation of ideals. The instruction that instills a greater desire for the good, the true, and the beautiful, must of necessity be based upon something vastly higher and farther reaching than can be found in any mere human doctrine of profit and loss. It must be the cultivation of the spiritual, —the education that expands the vision of the things of Spirit, —that eternal force which lifts us from the sordid things of the earth to divine heights. Christian Science contains this uplifting instruction, and must, sooner or later, be realized as the saving and regenerative teaching necessary to the redeeming of the world's activities.

Centuries ago, the lowly Nazarene gave this message to a darkened world: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Notwithstanding this beautiful promise, which should have fallen like a benediction upon a troubled people, humanity to-day is filled with fear, unrest, and discontent. In some way it has missed the straight road that the Way-shower so lovingly designated, and has wandered into bypaths leading farther and farther away from that sweet peace promised by the Master. The world says, "There is peace in riches!" but mankind finds worry. "There is peace in power and worldly honors!" but mankind finds ashes. "There is peace in travel!" but mankind finds unrest. At last, all hope of peace through material allurements having been forsaken, the question that was put to Jesus in olden times is again asked, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Listen again, and ponder his wonderful reply: "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

The incessant search for something higher, better, and more satisfying than is afforded by materiality is indicative that the great question asked by Pilate centuries ago, "What is truth?" has not been answered to the complete satisfaction of mankind. To those engaged in business, burdened with fear, worry, and petty annoyances, the words of Jesus, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," should come as a benediction. To give to the world a demonstrable definition of Truth which destroys the beliefs of fear, sin, and sickness is part of the mission of Christian Science.

Christian Science is the religion of the Bible. Its healing is spiritual; its peace, divine. Its divine Principle is Love, God. It does not ask you to believe it; it does not ask you to seek it; but all the same "it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath." If you accept it, it blesses you; if you reject it, and continue to push onward through the thorny ways of false belief, superstition, and fear, but finally thereafter to return, bearing the bitter fruits of that experience, you will find Truth, as revealed by Christian Science, waiting for you full of compassion and love. Christian Science teaches the importance of right thinking. It teaches that sin, sickness, and fear are the results of false thinking, which has its discordant effect upon the body; and that proportionately as we think rightly,—that is, with spiritual understanding,—will the eternal law of harmony be manifested in every detail of our experience.

However far one may have seemed to wander from God, some day, somewhere, through an awakened spiritual understanding will come the realization that man, the image and likeness of God, can never be separated from his divine source. A careful study of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, will show how closely allied is Christian Science to the teachings of the great Nazarene, who said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." Through its beneficent influence Christian Science has drawn, and continues to draw, its followers from all walks of life. It heals the sick, comforts the sorrowful, and lifts humanity from the depths of sin and despair. Christian Scientists do not claim, as it is sometimes stated, that they have reached perfection; but they do maintain that, through a better understanding of the Scriptures, they are enjoying a higher degree of health, happiness, and freedom than before they knew of Christian Science.

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