There is much evidence to indicate that Paul's wrestlings with the beliefs of the flesh were no less poignant than were those of Job. Recognizing the seeming power of materiality as expressed in the laws of the flesh, and in apparent distress, the Apostle wrote to his friends in Rome, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Paul, in common with mankind, was seeking a way out of the distresses and discomforts of existence, which at times seemed about to overwhelm him. That his doubtings as to his means of salvation, grievous as they were, were brief, is indicated in the verse in his epistle to the Romans immediately following that quoted above. With an assured note of triumph, and in keen discrimination between the demands of Spirit and the seeming claims of the flesh, he exclaimed: "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God."

The reader of Paul's writings is impressed with his great assurance of God's presence, goodness, and power, as taught and exemplified by Christ Jesus. He is a convincing example to the Christian world of independent thinking, typifying the mental state wherein one looks to God rather than to men to guide his footsteps, to direct him in all his ways.

Christian Scientists are well aware of the necessity incumbent upon them always, so far as practicable, to make their own demonstration through looking prayerfully to God. "'Work out your own salvation,'" was Mrs. Eddy's loving admonition in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 22), repeating the words of Paul. On page 23, in writing of self-reliance and confidence, she says: "One kind of faith trusts one's welfare to others. Another kind of faith understands divine Love and how to work out one's 'own salvation, with fear and trembling.'" And she closes the paragraph with these words: "The injunction, 'Believe . . . and thou shalt be saved!' demands self-reliant trustworthiness, which includes spiritual understanding and confides all to God." The Christian Scientist strives for the attainment of just that type of faith which enables him to look to God as the source and sustainer of his being, the Giver of both strength and wisdom.

A phase of mortal mind not uncommon is the tendency to look to some one else for decision and advice, even regarding one's own affairs. Analyzed, this type of thought is found to result from a sense of incompetency, a belief of inability to judge rightly as to the best course to pursue. Nor does the student of Christian Science immediately abandon this mental habit. Gradually, however, as the fact that God as divine Mind is All dawns upon consciousness, reliance upon Him develops, until he learns to look to God for guidance in all his ways. The intermediate steps, however, are many and important.

There is a lesson in the experience of Paul for all workers in Christian Science churches. How often has it occurred that the officers of a branch church, in doubt perhaps about some provision of the Manual, or uncertain as to the wisest course to pursue under some unusual circumstances, write to headquarters, overlooking the fact that through taking their problem prayerfully to God, working it out by the application of divine Principle, the means at hand are adequate and are the only means, since right decision by any group or individual rests upon divine Principle. It is not to be overlooked that the approach to God is open to all, else ecclesiasticism would govern men's activities. The growing tendency of the field of Christian Science to look directly to God for the solution of their problems is cause for genuine gratitude, and an interesting sign of the times.

Likewise, in a similar sense of lack, it sometimes happens that a group of students of Christian Science looking to establish religious services and to form a society think that none of their number is qualified to meet the needs, and seek helpers from outside. But if it be recalled that God meets all needs, and that since man expresses divine intelligence, all can express the capacity and capability to do whatever is necessary in order to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth, the demonstration may be often made within their own number. What reward in spiritual growth is thus won through rising to meet the demands of the situation!

Moreover, when one, perhaps accustomed to call upon a practitioner to meet even a seemingly slight belief of discord, by force of circumstances has been compelled to apply the healing Christ for himself, how great the Victory! Whatever impels individual demonstration is of great moment to the student of divine metaphysics. This type of self-reliance, however, does not imply increased confidence in one's own capabilities. Rather does it signify confidence in God's power and availability in meeting the needs of men. The greatest man who ever walked the earth declared: "I can of mine own self do nothing;" "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." What reason, then, can one find to magnify personal accomplishment? How explicit are our Leader's words on this important point! On page 185 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she says, "Self-renunciation of all that constitutes a so-called material man, and the acknowledgment and achievement of his spiritual identity as the child of God, is Science that opens the very flood-gates of heaven; whence good flows into every avenue of being, cleansing mortals of all uncleanness, destroying all suffering, and demonstrating the true image and likeness." How wonderfully does our Leader set forth the blessings resulting from that self-renunciation which accompanies complete reliance upon God! Self-reliance, then, results from understanding man and his relation to his creator.

Albert F. Gilmore