Divine Correction

Ella W. Hoag

There is, perhaps, no more comprehensive or liberating statement in the writings of Mrs. Eddy than the one to be found on page 6 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." There she writes, "Divine Love corrects and governs man." Were this universally accepted and reliance on it universally demonstrated, the world would be freed not only from its sins but from all the false responsibility which men so frequently feel in regard to each other's words and actions. A large proportion of the disagreements and disaffections among men results from a failure to see that God is responsible for the correction as well as goverment of everyone.

All are aware that there is much correction necessary in the world, and as a rule mortals are quite willing to do what they consider their part in bringing about perfection in others. Sometimes it would seem as though they considered themselves not only self-constituted judges of their neighbors, but also self-constituted administrators of what they deem the proper punishment to bring about needed correction. It always seems so easy to define another's faults! And the one who looks for evil in his neighbor is quick to imagine that he can mete out just retribution to that neighbor. Multitudes, therefore, appear to be in the mental attitude of trying to correct their neighbors.

All this has resulted not only in a false sense of correction, but also in a mistaken sense of government. Although the Bible has plainly proclaimed God as the universal source of true correction and government, few have understood how to trust Him to exercise these important prerogatives. As a consequence, irritation and unhappiness have prevailed, bringing forth their accompanying discord, where divine wisdom should have been left free to produce its unerring results of better and holier living.

In the long ago David sang, "The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me." And since God's love is infinite and universal, this promise must belong equally to all. Could anyone conceive of greater freedom than would be gained by understanding how to leave all correcting, perfecting, and governing to the mighty God, who is all good? What freedom from false responsibility! What assurance of ultimate perfection! What opportunity always to reflect loving-kindness would be brought about by such recognition of God's rightful predominance!

Christian Science, in its redemptive mission to mankind, emphasizes the fact that divine Love alone can properly correct. While this truth will deliver men from the mistaken belief that it is their business to get their neighbors into heaven through personal direction, it will also show them that God alone is equal to each one's own individual purification. It teaches them to pray with the Psalmist, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow;" and then it offers the glad promise of Isaiah, "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

This precious assurance that divine Love is equal to the complete and perfect correction of every mortal fault opens the pathway which leads to the heaven of Soul, where God's government reigns supreme. As the individual turns from the self-willed ignorance which would personally attempt his own or another's purification, to trust in Love's corrective power, he will find patience replacing impatience, charity supplanting criticism, courage and hope removing doubt and fear. One will thus find divine Love shedding its light of pure intelligence on the human consciousness, rebuking, reversing, and annihilating therein everything unlike God, good.

All this does not in any way limit the true responsibility demanded by God that each and every one yield to the correction of divine Love. While God must and will eventually triumph in every human consciousness, the way of correction may seem longer or shorter as the yielding is done willingly or unwillingly. The process of such correction may at times appear both long and arduous, since men often falter in meeting the inevitable divine demand for the relinquishment of all that is unlovely, unloving, unlovable.

In reality there is naught to oppose the immediate and full acceptance of divine correction and government, and each one may prove this by the ready acceptance and demonstration of every admonitory truth. As men learn to dwell with divine Love by thinking the loving thoughts which originate therein, as their words and deeds are the expression of Love, they cannot fail to find all unlike God eliminated from their experience. Ella W. Hoag

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