Article March 15, 1924 Issue

Publishing God's Name

EMMA L. DUNBAR

Moses , the great lawgiver, saw the need for mankind to turn away from the false belief in gods many to the understanding of God as Spirit, as the one power. Time after time, especially when error seemed to be crying its loudest, Moses turned to God for guidance, and was rewarded in proportion to his steadfastness, being enabled thereby to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt and bondage into the wilderness, where countless claims of error were met and mastered. No wonder he exclaimed, "I will publish the name of the Lord."

But Moses recognized the great need for his people to trust in God as he himself did, to turn to Him whenever and wherever assailed by the foe,—by the claims of evil which would rob man, were it possible, of all happiness and harmony through the subtle suggestions of lack, limitation, and other discords in various forms. Having proved the omnipotence of God, infinite good, under most trying circumstances, Moses could consistently utter the command, "Ascribe ye greatness unto our God." In other words, it is necessary for us, too, to prove and proclaim the all-power of God. On page 22 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy exposed the error of mortal mind's willingness to follow idly in another's footsteps, in the words: "Final deliverance from error, whereby we rejoice in immortality, boundless freedom, and sinless sense, is not reached through paths of flowers nor by pinning one's faith without works to another's vicarious effort."

"Ascribe" calls for activity, alertness, understanding, not merely for a passive acceptance of Truth, which is mere belief. Jesus sent his disciples not only to "preach the gospel," but to "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils." That is, they were to prove their worthiness to be called his disciples by putting into practice his precious teachings. Even when the seventy returned, rejoicing because the devils were subject unto them through the name of Christ, Truth, they were warned to guard against self-praise in these words, to be found in the tenth chapter of Luke: "Rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."

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