Article July 2, 1932 Issue

"To watch, and pray"

CHARLES V. WINN

In the teaching and life of our great Master, Jesus the Christ, watchfulness was constantly dwelt upon and stressed. Several of his finest parables were designed to impress upon his hearers the necessity of being watchful and alert. Our revered Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, in strict accord with our Master's teachings, also impresses on her followers the great value of watchfulness and alertness. Everyone who joins the Christian Science church subscribes to the following (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 497; Manual, p. 16): "We solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure."

Christian Science is not something to be merely subscribed to, but it inculcates upon us the fact that there is a life to be lived, Truth to be demonstrated, pure Science to be utilized and made practical. Love is active, Truth is vigorous, Life is energetic. True Science is not a matter of saying, but of doing. Its living truths are demonstrable, and must be incorporated into our lives. An automobile is a fine thing to have, but unless it is supplied with gasoline and used it will not carry us anywhere. The mileage of an automobile is never increased by its standing in a garage. The working parts of a machine are indispensable, but they play their full part only when the machine functions, to carry out the purpose for which it was made.

The passage in question shows us how to utilize the great truths of Christian Science and actually to embody them in our lives. All the key-words express action: promise, watch, pray, do, and be, are words that connote activity of the highest order. We are to promise to do something, watch to see that we do it, pray for strength to do it; and then we are actually to do and be what we know to be right and true. Not only are we to desire the good, but we are to promise to watch for it, to strive for it.

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