Editorial February 13, 1960 Issue

THE HONEST HEART

Helen Wood Bauman

The part that honesty plays in the spiritualization of human thought is indicated in Christ Jesus' parable of the sower who "went out to sow his seed" (Luke 8:5). Some of the seed fell by the wayside, some upon a rock, some among thorns. But other seed "fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold."

Jesus later explained to his disciples that the seed is God's Word; that the devil takes the Word away from those persons who are not ready for salvation; that temptation causes to fall away those in whom God's Word takes no root; that thorns choke the Word in those who are concerned with worldliness. "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Here the Master also taught the individual nature of salvation. The honest heart becomes a law unto itself.

Mary Baker Eddy says in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 272): "The spiritual sense of truth must be gained before Truth can be understood. This sense is assimilated only as we are honest, unselfish, loving, and meek. In the soil of an 'honest and good heart' the seed must be sown; else it beareth not much fruit, for the swinish element in human nature uproots it."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

APPRECIATING PERFECTION