Editorial September 4, 1926 Issue

Self-Control

Ella W. Hoag

When Christian Science was revealed, it found a world still wondering as to the meaning of self-control and how it was to be attained. To be sure, inasmuch as the world believed itself to have been Christianized, it had accepted Christ Jesus as the one perfect example of such control; but it nevertheless had rarely had sufficient understanding of Christianity to go and do likewise. While many an earnest heart had longed to follow in Jesus' footsteps, and while some had succeeded to some extent in holding themselves in subjection, still it was not rare to find the most devoted followers of the Christ often plunged into the depths of self-abasement, because they had failed to do the things they should have done, or had done so many they should not have done. Such were frequently heard to lament in the words of a familiar litany, "And there is no health in us."

Paul had recognized the frequent failure of mortals to express any adequate self-control, for in his epistle to the Romans he tells us that inability to govern one's self properly is due to belief in what he calls "the law of sin." He, however, goes on to speak of "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which had made him "free from the law of sin and death." Later, when his earth-work was approaching completion, he was able to tell of his own success in having exercised self-control; for he declared, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness."

There is, perhaps, no doubt that all right thinkers desire to gain the same dominion which Jesus and Paul demonstrated, in order that they, too, may do only the things which are right and proper. The question, however, still is, How is such self-control to be won? And Christian Science answers simply and clearly, By accepting and using the truth which God has given through Mrs. Eddy when she says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 106), "Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love."

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