Editorial August 2, 1947 Issue

ARE WE GAINING AN AFFECTION FOR GOOD?

John Randall Dunn

In his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul makes a statement which may well be pondered deeply by Christians everywhere. He writes (Gal. 4:18), "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." Does he not indicate in these words how necessary it is for the followers of Christ Jesus to cultivate an affection for good if they would be the masters of evil? He who loves only good does not need the thunder of Sinai's "Thou shah not"!

Discussing the question of the reformation of sinners, Mary Baker Eddy writes in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 327), "Reform comes by understanding that there is no abiding pleasure in evil, and also by gaining an affection for good according to Science, which reveals the immortal fact that neither pleasure nor pain, appetite nor passion, can exist in or of matter, while divine Mind can and does destroy the false beliefs of pleasure, pain, or fear and all the sinful appetites of the human mind."

If our inspired Leader had written but this one paragraph she would have blessed immeasurably the whole human family. Here Mrs. Eddy amplifies and makes practical Paul's declaration. He who gains a zealous affection for everything good, pure, and harmonious soon sees how devoid of real pleasure or satisfaction are the will o'-the-wisps of material sensation. Learning where real joy and peace of mind are to be found, the seeker after happiness no longer finds himself in the blind alleys and dead-end streets of error's hypnotic allure.

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