Article April 27, 1912 Issue

It is often through many bitter experiences that mortals...

George W. Farlow

Boston Times

It is often through many bitter experiences that mortals finally learn the meaning of the Scriptural statement: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"—that in proportion to their trust in God is their course divinely and prosperously directed. By fruitless struggle they are forced to a realization that "he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed," and are led to discover how to "ask in faith, nothing wavering." Thus mortals learn the justice of the Scriptural teaching, "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Misguided human sense is likely to deem that a necessity which is not so, hence the advisability of holding silent communion with the unerring divine Mind, in order to be guided aright. Moreover, with such communion in the first instance, one may escape the suffering which is required to compel one to place a rightful reliance upon God.

The great Exemplar accomplished his mighty works by making himself subservient to the divine will. He prayed, "Not as I will, but as thou wilt;" with the result that he was intelligently—not blindly led. Christian Scientists are demonstrating in a degree that it is possible to follow Jesus' example. By close application and practice of his teaching, they are escaping from the bondage of materialism and are experiencing much added freedom. The sincere practitioner of Christian Science is proving day by day the power of Truth to heal sickness and sin, when spiritually understood and faithfully utilized. The Christian Science business man who applies his understanding of God to his business, is proving the power of Truth to overcome the fear of failure. He is learning that to seek "first the kingdom of God" is as necessary in business as it is in accomplishing the healing of sickness and sin. In the time of depression and adversity he sees the law of justice (God's will) in the experience, and gathers encouragement, rather than discouragement, therefrom.

The Christian Science text-book teaches that human will is a blind guide and can accomplish nothing in the right direction. Ignorance of this fact leads mortals into all sorts of confusion and discord. God, who is omniscient, fulfils all right desires in the ratio of their worthiness, while all erroneous cravings remain fruitless. No matter how great may be the struggle or how dark the way appears, our hope of peace and success lies in the practice of looking away from the material sense of things to the spiritual. "God is no respecter of persons." He deals out justly to each individual the portion he deserves, from the simple fact that He always regards a righteous thought or act and never responds to an evil thought or act. Mortals suffer only inasmuch as they are out of harmony with God and pay the penalty of a false sense of existence. They enjoy in proportion to their realization of His beneficent presence.

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