Article October 28, 1933 Issue

Promptness

LYMAN S. ABBOTT

It is recorded that when Paul and his companions were shipwrecked on the island of Melita, while he was gathering a bundle of sticks to put on the fire a viper came "out of the heat, and fastened on his hand." The natives who witnessed the occurrence, and who were familiar with such things, believed that Paul would be seriously or fatally poisoned. Paul, however, promptly "shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm." He did not dally with it or examine the wound, but shook off the viper immediately; and no evidence of its supposed power remained.

In this incident is exemplified a quality of thought which Christian Scientists may well emulate—promptness in rejecting evil suggestion of every sort. In the temptation in the wilderness Jesus manifested this quality in his instant rejection of each temptation which came to him. Prompt obedience to the demands of Truth is vitally necessary at all times.

When one is working out a problem in Christian Science, there can be no half-hearted obedience, no compromising with error in any form. That our revered Leader knew the necessity of promptness in handling physical claims is brought out in her admonition on page 390 of Science and Health where she says, "When the first symptoms of disease appear, dispute the testimony of the material senses with divine Science;" and again, on page 463, "To decide quickly as to the proper treatment of error—whether error is manifested in forms of sickness. sin, or death—is the first step towards destroying error." If we would be freed from the false laws of mortal mind and reap the benefit of our declarations of Truth, we must reject promptly every suggestion of sickness, sin, accident, lack, unemployment, or inharmony of any name or nature. When lies of material thinking beset us, we may with complete confidence declare and realize that because he is the perfect expression of God, infinite Mind, man manifests health, harmony, freedom from sinful thoughts, abundant supply, productive activity, and complete harmony. Then, in proportion to our understanding of God's immutable law and our fidelity to Truth, false beliefs will be overcome.

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