"He put them all out"

Violet Ker Seymer

When Jesus responded to the appeal of Jairus on behalf of his dying child, his reply to the messenger, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole," included, we may notice, a rebuke to fear, a call to faith, and the promise of complete healing. With scientific certainty the Master went forth to meet the situation. On his arrival at the house, he was confronted not only with the evidence of death, but also with weeping, wailing, and scorn. "And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise." He did not allow these self-assertive traits of error to interfere with the proof he was about to give of the eternality of life. It was not merely persons whom Jesus put out, but the materialism to which they bore witness, the false knowledge of mortal mind, and its scorn in the face of Life's vivifying presence. "And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway." "Her spirit" was distinct from the belief of life and death in matter.

In the practice of Christian Science all false witnessing has to be put out of consciousness in order that the Christ, Truth, may bring forth the evidence of everlasting life, health, and harmony. What place has false testimony in infinite Truth? None. From the standpoint of Spirit and its pure, all-embracing manifestation, there is no material sense, no matter, no mortal—no false witness. There is only Spirit, spiritual sense, spiritual man. "Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord."

The Christian Scientist, standing with Truth, must therefore be scientifically, spiritually sure that life, health, and intelligence are spiritual and indestructible. They have not to be redeemed from matter nor restored to matter. They are as untouched by materiality as was the immortal life of the child whom Jesus raised by the power of Life.

It is the life-purpose of the Christian Scientist to bring forth the healing evidence of divine Love abundantly and unfailingly. If, in the course of his healing work for himself and others, fear, doubt, and the belief of material resistance to divine Principle seem to becloud his consciousness, he should not rest satisfied until he has "put them all out" as impotent arguments of mortal mind. Christian Science inspires, invigorates, and confirms the faithful witness in his high stand for divine Principle. True witnessing partakes of the calm of Soul.

Speaking metaphorically, Jesus said, "If thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee," and of the offending "right eye" he said it should be plucked out. Obviously, this was a mental process—the trenchant rejection of the belief in an evil power, or in faulty perception. We cannot imagine Jesus being indifferent or irregular in bearing witness to the presence of God and His perfect manifestation. Truth is never untrue to itself, and it is in Truth that true thinking abides. Jesus' love of good was so great that error could find no entrance into his loyal consciousness. This same love of God and man demands of the Christian Scientist his spiritual allegiance, and rewards it. Vigilant true witnessing is not a dry duty, but the practical result of spiritual understanding, and inseparable from confidence and joyousness. How ennobled is the daily life of those who implicitly trust the Love that never fails! How gladly they dwell on the fact of indestructible health and of Life reflected in the life which knows no beginning or ending! And how courageously they demonstrate these facts on behalf of the human race!

Our aim as Christian Scientists should be to express the same spiritual authority which the Master showed when, confronted with false witnesses, "he put them all out." This aim can be fulfilled as we obey the behest, "Hold fast that which is good." Through this two-in-one of true witnessing—the rejection of error and holding to the truth—we carry the mission of Christian Science into the highways and byways of daily experience and turn humanity's gaze heavenward.

Incredulity regarding Truth's healing power, or doubt and fear, sorrow and bitterness, must be put out of thought so that they shall not delay a healing. Everything that would betray one into infidelity toward God, disregard of the Way-shower's example, or disobedience to the rules of Christian Science practice—which require radical reliance on Truth's healing power—must be rejected. Thus may we control the belief that matter is substantial, creative, or destructive, and cease to be controlled by it. Thus may our every thought be brought under the government of divine Principle. Thus may we demonstrate the spiritual dominion bestowed on man and move serenely on to full proof that "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God."

Violet Ker Seymer

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