Editorial December 15, 1934 Issue

Diligence

Violet Ker Seymer

The way of diligence calls for vigilance in keeping spiritual perfection dominant in thought. It is the way of penetrating veracity, combining diligence with demonstration. In defining the functions of "diligence, promptness, and perseverance" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 514), Mrs. Eddy writes, "They carry the baggage of stern resolve, and keep pace with highest purpose." The Christian Scientist's "highest purpose" being to prove the completeness and supermancy of spiritual being, this purpose has the support of divine Principle, and carries with it the "stern resolve" which achieves.

When, "rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed," Jesus expressed diligence, devotion to good. Likewise, Mrs. Eddy looked and hearkened diligently to the commands of God and as diligently obeyed them with the result that her teachings have spread over the world. Christian Scientists, drawn, not driven, by resistless Love, also hold sacred this divinely natural quality of diligence which is unremitting, spontaneous, the inevitable complement of spiritual intelligence.

Proof of plenty comes with diligence in true witnessing. A condition of plenty held before the children of Israel by Moses was that they should "hearken diligently" to the command to love and serve God. This diligent service nullifies petty fear and selfishness, and blesses ourselves and others. Without it none can honestly expect to manifest the ampleness and variety of divine supply. Without it none can honestly expect to conquer sin, disease, and death. How shall the command to "hearken diligently" be carried out? By spiritual discrimination which rejects erroneous suggestion and credits only the spiritual fact of harmonious existence. Divine Love is both amply supplied and manifested throughout God's creation, and this fact each one must prove for himself by overcoming everything that is unlovely. Only so can one offer homage to God and service to men. Only so is one truly diligent.

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