Doing the Works

It has become very generally recognized that salvation is won by works rather than by words. Not by this declaration of belief or by that, but by doing the works which Christ Jesus prescribed as those which should "follow them that believe," is progress made Spiritward. There is, perhaps, no injunction which Mrs. Eddy pressed upon her students with greater emphasis than the necessity of demonstration in proof of her teaching. She fully recognized the futility of presenting to the world mere doctrine, unsubstantiated by irrefutable proof. Her own inspiring example is always before us. Not until she had proved the Principle of her revelation to be immanent and available to destroy every type of discord, to meet the needs of humanity in every particular, did she give her discovery to the public. Thus it was not a mere theory or speculative philosophy that she presented, but a demonstrated religion, proved beyond the possibility of refutation to be a revival of primitive Christianity, the healing light of which had for centuries been so sadly obscured.

Of the requirement for something more convincing than mere profession, our Leader says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 141), "More than profession is requisite for Christian demonstration;" and she further gives as the reason why so few follow the Master's teachings, "Because his precepts require the disciple to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye,—that is, to set aside even the most cherished beliefs and practices, to leave all for Christ."

The writer of the book of Acts states that "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." What more explicit summary could be made of the works which the Master performed in proof of his Messiahship? What more concise statement could there be of the duty devolving upon every follower of the Nazarene who desires to become his true disciple? And the secret of his power was that "God was with him." Here, then, was the source of his wonderful capability in overcoming discord, in destroying the works of the devil, and in setting aside material law, even the so-called law of gravitation so generally accepted by humanity as unchangeable. But "God was with him"! What more does one need by way of explanation of the many mighty works performed by Christ Jesus than this knowledge? Surely when God is with men, all things are within the possibility of accomplishment.