MANY in the world today are holding to the belief that the might of dominating human will alone succeeds, that victory rests on the side of the materially strongest, and that to him belong the spoils. Those who so believe reverse the Golden Rule, entertaining the conviction that other men, similarly placed, would thus treat them.

Christian Science, however, is supplanting the belief that material force and human will have power with the understanding that the only power inheres in divine Mind, and is expressed through righteous thinking. While self-will gloats over its seeming authority, spiritual insight enables one to be patient and kind, generous and tolerant, proving to himself and others that true ethical power rests on faith in and understanding of God, in whom is all power.

Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 484), "Physical force and mortal mind are one." And on page 131, under the marginal heading "The error of carnality," she sets forth the following arresting statement: "The central fact of the Bible is the superiority of spiritual over physical power." Let us consider a few Biblical examples. Abraham, having received from God the promise that his seed should become a great nation, quietly deferred to Lot. He allowed his nephew to have the choice of the land before them, and then found God's promise renewed. A significant instance of the subjugating of the material to the spiritual is the case of Joseph, who, when he had been exalted to a position in Egypt second only to that of Pharaoh, freely forgave his brothers who had wronged him, and helped them in their need.

Towering over all, we have the inspiring example of our great Master. Although he knew that mortal malice had planned to destroy him, he could say to Peter, "Put up . . . thy sword;" and his realization of the presence of divine Love, expressed in human forgiveness, was so clear that he healed the ear of the Roman soldier, which had been cut off by the impetuous Peter's sword. Clearly it was the might of humility, the magnanimity of selflessness, forgiveness, and love for God and man, which Jesus expressed, that gave him the foremost place in human history.

The basic truths of the Bible have never changed. That which was true in the time of the great patriarchs is still demonstrably true. The ability to prove the verity of Biblical teaching depends on one's understanding of its spiritual meaning. How do we use the authority entrusted to us? Does it make us proud and dominating, or less critical and more kind? Do we struggle for place and position, or do we confidently trust spiritual law to guide us into that which is rightfully ours, as children of God? Do we greedily struggle for material gain, or are we daily striving to reflect more of that spiritual heritage that is our birthright in divine Mind? The answers to these questions reveal the ethics of our practice.

Eventually every individual must awaken to the demands of Spirit and spiritual law, and learn to express goodness. The first requisite is self-knowledge. The Psalmist cried, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Self-knowledge includes an understanding of the truth that man, as the image of God, the son of God, is exempt from all evil. And with this truth we must identify ourselves.

Thought becomes obedient to the law or will of God in the proportion that fear and human will are overcome. Thus our experience responds to divine Principle and its law of harmonious activity. This mental discipline is imperative, for our own thinking affects our health, harmony, and happiness. Many individuals desire to serve God, but there are others who seek only what they call their own, who allow envy and jealousy to take possession of their thoughts and control them. One cause for this erroneous mental condition is the fear or apprehension of another's superiority. The more jealousy and envy are admitted to thought, the more one is denying and doubting his own God-given ability to demonstrate the success and unlimited good which God has in store for all. Thus he is letting error serve as an obstruction to his own success. Consecrated prayer and the struggle to overcome self-will, self-love, and self-justification are sometimes necessary to free one's thinking of the arguments of evil. It is necessary not only to get rid of our own beliefs of jealousy and envy, but to realize that they have no power but to destroy themselves. So we protect ourselves against them. In the reality of being divine Love governs all.

Thought imbued with love for God and man expresses the compassion which helps and heals. Intolerance and impatience with those differing from us in opinion and viewpoint cause disruptions in families, in organizations, and also between nations. Arguments and contentions result in victory to none. They would rob us of the reward of righteous labor, and impede our progress. In every case "love is the fulfilling of the law." We progress only as we love.

Destructive criticism is a form of error. It sees man as imperfect. Though we pray for spiritual ability to heal the sick and sinful, we thereby shut out the revelation of the real man. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., pp. 476, 477): "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."

The passions of mortal mind—fear, anger, impatience, and the like—may seem to have a strong hold upon us. We should meet their deceiving arguments by holding our thought to the spiritual fact that man is under the omnipotent and absolute government of God. Every time we exercise the moral courage to turn away from the decoys of material sense, we strengthen our apprehension of true being and utilize our God-given dominion, which Paul tells us is "mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."