One who becomes a student of Christian Science soon learns that he is living in a universe of thought and that his health, his relations with others, his environment, indeed, his full salvation, are dependent upon the mental forces he entertains. Finding God to be the only Mind, as Christian Science reveals, and the source of all true thought, he makes diligent efforts to reject every mental influence which might sway him in thought and action in ways contrary to the Father's will. His understanding that God is one infinite, all-inclusive Mind aids him in demonstrating the unreality—the actual nothingness—of the aggressive forces of evil which might otherwise overwhelm him in their claim to power and control.

Mary Baker Eddy says in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 113), "He who refuses to be influenced by any but the divine Mind, commits his way to God, and rises superior to suggestions from an evil source."

Christ Jesus was never influenced by the suggestions of the carnal mind, the counterfeit consciousness described in Romans (8:7) as "enmity against God," that is, the opposite of good, for he resisted its evil influence consistently.

On one occasion, as he was explaining to his disciples the course which he must follow of submitting to death, that he might do the will of God by proving life to be immortal, Peter rebuked him, endeavoring to influence him from his divinely appointed task. The Master did not personalize the false mentality which Peter expressed, for he knew the one evil as a lie, having no identity. He said quickly (Matt. 16:23), "Get thee behind me, Satan." He understood animal magnetism, the action of false consciousness, and rejected its insistent urge.

In Article VIII. Section 6, of the Manual of The Mother Church, Mrs. Eddy provides a By-Law designed to protect the members of her church from admitting into their thinking such evil mental forces as Peter entertained. Here she says, "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind." Any attempt to influence erroneously, as did Peter, is evidence that one is being made to neglect this great duty—that he is entertaining energies of suppositional evil which would obstruct God's will.

What but the action of false consciousness would urge one to place the limitations of his own thinking upon the faithful progress of another by suggesting that he lacks the spiritual inspiration to do an appointed task, or that he is too old to be useful; that he is not fitted for his present function, or that he should change the present course of action, which he has prayerfully adopted, and follow another not to his liking?

The alert student is quick to resist the urge to influence the affairs of others erroneously. He recognizes God's control of His own ideas and trusts his neighbor to the care of the heavenly father.

The most vivid exhibition of the seeming aggressive influence of evil in all history is found in the incidents which took place in the garden of Gethsemane on the night the Master was betrayed, and helpful lessons may be gained from its study. On this memorable evening, Christ Jesus said to his disciples (Matt. 26:31), "All ye shall be offended because of me this night," and Peter protested that he would die before denying the Master.

In the garden, Christ Jesus took three of his disciples aside and asked them to watch while he prayed. Returning three times, he found them sleeping. He was struggling with the same hypnotic force that caused them to sleep, and at first it seemed difficult for him to resist its influence. He prayed (Matt. 26:42), "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done."

The seeming action of evil, or animal magnetism, will not pass from us until we learn to destroy it by understanding its nothingness. It was aggressive mortal influence, the force of suppositional evil, that put the disciples to sleep and caused Judas to betray the Master, Peter to deny him, and the disciples to desert him. The same animal instinct that impelled the rabble to crucify him influenced the disciples; it acted upon both foe and friend.

So-called animal magnetism may be likened to the water's fall—it goes where the level lets it down. Some undestroyed materialism, some self-interest or willfulness, gave error entrance to the thought of the disciples. It was the level of their thinking that let in the adverse influence of evil. In Judas it found the lowest level. Christ Jesus withstood its supposed influence, for error found no level in his sinless, fearless, innocent consciousness. He could not be made to neglect his spiritual duty.

Two points stand out instructively in the study of this great lesson in handling suppositional evil: the way in which it claimed to work from without as a universal force, and the level of moral and spiritual weakness it found within those who failed to resist it. The one evil, supposititious mortal mind, can never reach the consciousness which is above it. Sinlessness and innocency, plus diligent, alert prayer which understands God's allness and the spiritual perfection of His ideas, serve as a sure defense for every faithful Christian Scientist against the seeming influence of error.

In "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader says (p. 114): "Christian Scientists cannot watch too sedulously, or bar their doors too closely, or pray to God too fervently, for deliverance from the claims of evil. Thus doing, Scientists will silence evil suggestions, uncover their methods, and stop their hidden influence upon the lives of mortals."

Helen Wood Bauman