Article June 24, 1939 Issue

"Heaven's first law"

[Written Especially for Young People]

BARBARA D. WILSON

"Order," Pope defines as "heaven's first law." Commenting on this statement, Mrs. Eddy says (Retrospection and Introspection, p. 87), "The poet's line, 'Order is heaven's first law,' is so eternally true, so axiomatic, that it has become a truism; and its wisdom is as obvious in religion and scholarship as in astronomy or mathematics."

The quality of order, then, is plainly of prime importance, and should be given first place in our thinking if we expect to demonstrate harmony in our experience. Orderly, reasoned, accurate thinking is capable of all good. Confused, unreasoned, erring thought leads to unhappiness and defeat.

What do Christian Scientists mean by orderly thinking? It is to hold thought patiently and persistently to the spiritual facts of being, as we have learned them in Christian Science, and to keep these facts uppermost in our consciousness at all times, no matter what human activity we may be engaged in at the moment. In school we have numberless opportunities to prove the spiritual fact that man reflects divine intelligence. At play we may bear witness to the fact that God's child manifests strength, spontaneity, joy, friendliness, and all the other lovely qualities which make us welcome participants in any game. In business we are privileged to demonstrate the much-needed fact that co-operation, brotherly love, forbearance, lead to success, and have their legitimate place in the business world, as elsewhere. When we bring to even our smallest tasks the qualities of diligence, promptness, neatness, cleanliness, we prove that the law of harmony is governing us. Indeed, it is necessary to prove this in the little things before we can do so in the larger tasks. Spiritual right thinking, like an undertone of rich music, should accompany every human activity, hallowing our accomplishments and giving them true significance.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

"Heaven's first law"

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access