Article January 30, 1937 Issue

"The unknown foe"

KATHERINE ENGLISH

In her book "Retrospection and Introspection" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 31), "The first spontaneous motion of Truth and Love, acting through Christian Science on my roused consciousness, banished at once and forever the fundamental error of faith in things material; for this trust is the unseen sin, the unknown foe,—the heart's untamed desire which breaketh the divine commandments."

Mortals naturally put their trust in matter, in money, in position, the personal influence or charm of friends or of those in office. They place their faith in medicine, education, in physical sense testimony. Who has not found that these false trusts and material evidences fail in time of need? The error of faith in things material, however it may express itself, is what we must discard if we resolve to prove the truth of Christian Science and to experience its blessings. Having once turned away from this false faith, we should watch that we do not go back to it and wrap ourselves in it, when we need protection from the winds of adversity or the chill of mortal malice. Instead, we should seek Love's warm mantle of charity, which is ready, waiting for us to put on. We should examine ourselves often to see if this subtle sin, this "unknown foe," is at work to rob us of our fruitage, to delay our success.

"The unknown foe," using many disguises, may pose as our best friend, our most useful possession, our greatest talent, so that oftentimes we obey its suggestions and ignorantly play into its hands against our best interests. This error of faith in matter, of trust in the things of this world, is the fundamental error through which the serpent beguiled Eve in the ancient allegory of the garden of Eden. It suggested that wisdom might be gained from material experience, desire for matter, and curiosity as to its taste and effect, pleasure through regarding it, and belief in its healthful and nourishing properties. All these aggressive suggestions whispered into thought excited Eve's imagination, biased her judgment, and led her to yield to the hidden sin. It roused "the heart's untamed desire," inducing her to break the divine command, and, in addition, to cause her husband to go astray.

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