In his second epistle to the Corinthians, Paul wrote of the advisability of "bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." Christians generally agree with this advice and are found striving to make their thinking Christlike. One of the things that followers of Christ Jesus seek to do is to control that which is called temper. They have seen in their daily contact with others the unpleasant, even, sometimes, disastrous effects of giving way to anger and other evil emotions. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes on page 234 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," "You must control evil thoughts in the first instance, or they will control you in the second."

Many students of Christian Science, as well as those who are not students, have observed the effect of mortal thinking upon the functions of the so-called physical body. For example, it is quite generally admitted that fear immediately affects the circulation of the blood and anger impairs the function of digestion. Is it not reasonable to conclude, then, that a habitual tendency to be fearful might, in belief, result in a persistent sense of congestion, or that a chronic disposition to become angry might easily result in what is called chronic indigestion or some other difficulty? Knowing this to be a human fact, Mrs. Eddy, in the chapter called "Christian Science Practice," in Science and Health, says (p. 393): "Take possession of your body, and govern its feeling and action. Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good. God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man." And she continues in the next paragraph, "Be firm in your understanding that the divine Mind governs, and that in Science man reflects God's government."

It should be plain that one who does not control his temper might find it difficult to exercise control or dominion over his body. And yet many who would readily agree with this statement might have difficulty in seeing how to control their thoughts. They might wish very much to be rid of angry, hateful, fearful, and jealous thoughts; they might earnestly desire to bring their "every thought to the obedience of Christ," and yet be honestly in doubt as to how it could be accomplished. Christian Science has shown thousands how to go about this important task, and to the extent that they understand and obey its teachings, they are meeting with success.

Christian Science helps one to see that mortals are not original thinkers. They think, very generally, the thoughts which are suggested to them or impressed on them by mortal mind. Therefore the thoughts of anger, resentment, and fear, to mention only three erroneous kinds of thinking, do not necessarily originate with mortals, but may be imposed on them from the outside, so to speak. Then what is one to do, if he finds himself obsessed by a sense of anger or fear, almost before he realizes it? What shall one do who seems to be victimized by aggressive and persistent suggestions of evil? Mrs. Eddy has answered these questions very definitely, as follows (Science and Health, p. 392): "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously."

The door to one's mentality opens from within, and if one is alert to detect the nature of would-be intruders—evil thoughts—he will be likely to succeed in keeping them out of his mental home. "But," one says, "So-and-so did this or that to me. Haven't I a right to resent it?" Christian Science shows that the one who gives way to resentment and indulges in retaliation is the one who suffers most. In belief, wrong thinking and wrong acting punish those who allow themselves to be governed by error, which is only another way of saying that error punishes itself.

Christ Jesus was too wise to give way to anger or resentment because of unjust and unkind treatment. He understood too well the impersonal nature of evil to be deceived into believing it to be person. He knew the only real Mind to be infinitely and changelessly good, and all real thinking to be good thinking. He understood the true selfhood of every individual to be the reflection of divine Love; hence, incapable of knowing or doing evil. Thus he was able truly to love his neighbor as himself, to see him as God sees him—perfect and good. Although Jesus was persecuted, spat upon, and crucified, he would not hate, because he knew too much to do so. Therefore he was able to say, even on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

George Shaw Cook