Editorial December 10, 1927 Issue

"Called to be saints"

Ella W. Hoag

The Bible has much to say about saints. It tells us that the "beloved of God" are "called to be saints;" it speaks of God as being their king; it also talks of their patience and faith, and of their being made perfect. Daniel prophesies that the days will come when evil "shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws;" while in Revelation we read of the dragon making "war with the saints." Undoubtedly in all these instances saints are referred to in accordance with the usual definition of them as "holy or godly;" as those who are "sanctified or consecrated."

Now "saint" is an old-fashioned word which has fallen more or less into disuse; but that saints are still needed in the world is a foregone conclusion. That there are those today who deserve the name may also be true; and a willingness to recognize them as walking the earth among men here and now may help to encourage the expression of goodness, as well as to forward the realization of the possible intimate association between God and men. It may also tend to waken God's saintly witnesses to be on guard against error's efforts to hinder and obstruct their spiritual progress.

Many a Christian has had sainthood as a goal; but he has failed to understand how such godliness was to be attained during this earthly existence. Christian Science, however, makes the way to this end plain. In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 219) Mrs. Eddy presents the lucid and revelatory statement, "Mortal mind makes sinners, while immortal Mind makes saints." At the very first we therefore discover that we cannot of ourselves create saintship. It is only immortal Mind which can so revolutionize the thinking of mortals that, as a certain poet has said, we may walk the earth as "God's sanctuary." As we dwell in constant communion with the Mind which is God, sainthood becomes more and more easily attainable; for do not divine thoughts bring forth divine qualities?

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