Editorial June 15, 1940 Issue

"And the dragon fought . . . and prevailed not"

EVELYN F. HEYWOOD

On page 211 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Jesus stormed sin in its citadels and kept peace with God." Here we see how the angels Michael and Gabriel were continually at work in the pure consciousness of Jesus. The same perfect combination of spiritual strength and peace in the thought of humanity is required today. The individual cannot afford to do less than storm the citadels of sin; neither must he allow the violence and daring of sin to separate him from that inner peace which preserves him in the heat and onslaught of battle, from anger, resentment, or distress. In the serene consciousness of his unity with God he can go forth with no less assurance than did David to meet every Goliath of material boastfulness and seeming power.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee," declared the prophet. Faith in God which in the dark hour is faced by apparently insuperable odds, yet still remains faith, has seen beyond the moment's extremity to the certainty of the spiritual overcoming of all enemy offensives; to the calm conviction of Truth's inevitable triumph over all evil. To him whose mind is stayed on God, who refuses to acknowledge, whatever the temporary evidence and exultation of the forces of evil arrayed against him, that they can be victorious, there will be no tremor of doubt, no separation from peace. Against such the dragon, however fierce and formidable, does not prevail. On pages 566 and 567 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy we read: "Michael's characteristic is spiritual strength. He leads the hosts of heaven against the power of sin, Satan, and fights the holy wars."

The Christian Scientist knows that the conflict in which he is engaged, calling perhaps for greater strength, steadier faith than have ever yet been demanded of him, is not against persons or circumstances, but against the seeming forces of mortal mind, ruthless disturbers of the peace and harmony of mankind. He knows that he is not dealing merely with a conspiracy of modern ingenuity or invention, belonging to any particular peoples, but with that agelong insanity of unbridled human will always seeking fresh devices to accomplish its purpose, over which spiritual strength alone can, and infallibly does, prevail.

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