Article July 9, 1966 Issue

"Then"

GRACE SODEN HAERLE

The assertions in the first Psalm remind us of the beloved Beatitudes. We read that a man is blessed if he does not walk "in the counsel of the ungodly," stand "in the way of sinners," or sit "in the scat of the scornful"; and if "his delight is in the law of the Lord" and if he meditates in his law "day and night." The forthcoming blessing is that "he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water"; that "his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." ^{ Ps, 1:1}

In both the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy it may be noted that when part of a statement indicates a requirement, the word "then" frequently precedes the specifying of the consequences. One of many such Scriptural passages reads: "Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding . . . that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. Then shalt thou prosper." ^{ I Chron. 22:12, 13;} Earnest pondering of these and other references, followed by the fulfilling of the advised mode of activity, reveals that such compliance results in rich rewards.

In a sharp rebuke to hypocrisy, Christ Jesus gave this command: "Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye"; and the result of acting in accordance with this directive follows, "And then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."^{ Luke 6:42;} If we give consideration to the fact that the beam in one's own eye is the false view of man as material, we come easily to the conclusion that the casting out of that wrong outlook gives clear vision to correct the concept of a faulty brother. With the deluding beam removed, only the perfect man of God's creating is in evidence.