A Lesson that must be learned by every student of Christian Science is to meet and master his problems where he is and not to run away from them. Fear would sometimes argue otherwise. Sin and disease can often be analyzed in terms of fear, and it is the leading and governing fear, and not a physical condition, which must primarily be dealt with. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (pp. 391, 392), "Fear is the fountain of sickness, and you master fear and sin through divine Mind; hence it is through divine Mind that you overcome disease." Fear can be faced boldly when it is realized that man is the reflection of the divine Mind, and not the outcome of the carnal mind, or sensuality.

Fear is sometimes latent in thought; hence the need of constant watchfulness. It is folly to allow a latent fear to remain in consciousness once its presence is detected. It is like knowingly retaining a dishonest servant who may at any moment abscond with one's most cherished possessions. Mindful of this fact, the student of Christian Science recognizes the value of self-examination. The leading or governing fear must be deprived of its seeming leadership and government. This is accomplished by enthroning the divine Mind as governor and thus dethroning the carnal mind.

We cast out fear through Love— not the love of a person, or indeed the love of any thing, but impersonal, spiritual love, which stems from the Love that is God, the "perfect love" to which the Apostle John referred when he wrote, "Perfect love casteth out fear."

The carnal mind is a prolific source of fear and disease. But this so-called mind is not the Mind which is God. It exists only as a supposition, and not as the mind, or intelligence, of man. The carnal mind need not be feared, obeyed, or propitiated. All the qualities of Mind are created by God, the only creator, and all that He made is good. Therefore man's God-created intelligence is not evil or fearful, but good, wise, loving, and pure. These facts habitually entertained will destroy the elements of fear originating from the carnal mind, and this entertainment of the spiritual facts concerning man is a successful method of dealing with fear. It cuts off fear at its source, namely, the carnal or mortal mind, which conceives it.

It should be recognized that fear, whether latent or otherwise, cannot create a fearful man, since man is already created as the image and likeness of God. That which God has created stands, but whatever the carnal mind has claimed to create is no part of true creation. In human experience an individual may claim certain authority, but the question is, Can this claim be substantiated?

Many years ago a lawsuit was filed in an English court of law in which a man represented himself as the rightful heir to a hereditary title and a great estate. His appeal was persuasive and eloquent, so much so that many believed in him. But after an exhaustive trial the falsity of his claims was exposed and he was pronounced an impostor. Fear, whether latent or apparent, claims to be a part of our inheritance, but it is really an impostor, because it stems from a mind that is itself supposititious.

We learn in Christian Science not to judge by appearances. Our Master instructed us on this point when he said (John 7:24), "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." A Christian Scientist does not take error at its own estimate. When he is called upon to heal disease, his first thought is to destroy the fear that engenders it. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health, p. 411): "Always begin your treatment by allaying the fear of patients. Silently reassure them as to their exemption from disease and danger." It is noticeable that our Leader recommends that we employ the silent prayer of affirmation. This prayer is not addressed to an auditory nerve, but it reaches the receptive spiritual element in human consciousness, and thus uncovers and destroys mortal mind and the fear to be found there.

Sometimes one hears the remark, "I do not know enough to work out my problem." Such an attitude of mind invites defeat. It is not the amount which we know of Christian Science that is the important thing; it is the amount which we are using of what we know that really matters. Mrs. Eddy says (ibid., p. 449), "A grain of Christian Science does wonders for mortals, so omnipotent is Truth, but more of Christian Science must be gained in order to continue in well doing."

Students should take what they know of Science and daily and diligently grow in grace. They should practice the Golden Rule and overcome their latent and leading fears through the spiritual understanding of the power, purity, and assurance of divine Love. They should put their whole weight into the scale of Spirit and with unselfed love minister to the needs of others, even if only by their thoughtfulness and loving consideration. In so doing they will enter the Christ-path, "the way," as our Master called it. On this way they will find the fruits of healing and the flowers of fellowship. They will pause sometime in the steep ascent and look back with grateful hearts at the wilderness from which they came. Then hand in hand with new-found friend and fellow workers in Science, they will scale the mount of beatitudes and understand the truth of these great words (Rev. 22:14): "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."

Robert Ellis Key