"I seek not mine own will"

Archibald McLellan

Among the criticisms of Christian Science which appear from time to time, is the claim that followers of this faith are narrow and bigoted, because they do not embody in their doctrine the views of others who have thought and written upon lines which the critics believe to be similar to Christian Science. These criticisms are based on the belief that Christian Science is but the practice of human will-power, or hypnotism. To such allegations Mrs. Eddy answered in her Message for 1901 (p. 20): "Christian Scientists are not hypnotists, they are not mortal mind-curists, nor faith-curists; they have faith, but they have Science, understanding, and works as well. They are not the addenda, the et ceteras, or new editions of old errors; but they are what they are, namely, students of a demonstrable Science leading the ages."

The great and essential difference between Christian Science and all other systems with which superficial critics confuse it, is that these other systems are predicated on a supposed supremacy of "mind over matter." These systems, however, deal only with the human or mortal mind, a mind which is believed to be endowed with power for both good and evil; whereas the Mind which Christian Scientists invoke is infinite, divine Mind, the one God and creator, whose creation and works are infinitely good, the Mind "which was also in Christ Jesus."

So little is this distinction understood, however, that it is not at all uncommon to hear persons say that they have always believed in the supremacy of "mind over matter," and they are under the impression that in making this assertion they are paying tribute to Christian Science. In this wholly superficial judgment they have in no wise differentiated Mind, God, from the false belief of a mind or intelligence apart from God, a belief to be governed only by the human will, either their own or that of a stronger personality than themselves. Christian Science teaches, on the contrary, that among the inalienable rights bestowed on man is that of self-government; that man is properly self-governed, not when he is asserting his own will or bowing to the will of another, but "only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 106),—a declaration of independence which clearly precludes interference with or infringement upon this self-government by another human mentality.

Divine Mind is the Principle and basis of Christian Science, and through the demonstration of this divine power, which is always right and always available for the needs of humanity, the sick are healed and the sinful are reformed today, even as they were in the time of Christ Jesus. In all the works of healing done by the Master, he took no credit to himself for their accomplishment, but declared he was only the instrument for the Father's will. "I can of mine own self do nothing: . . . I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me," is what our Master said when the Jews persecuted him and sought to slay him, after he had healed the impotent man at the pool; and so may say the Christian Scientist, for he cannot heal the sick or reform the sinner unless he also is actuated by the divine Mind, before whose omnipotence and ever-presence error of every kind and degree must be utterly destroyed.

Human will-power, on the other hand, boasts itself of its personal domination over the will of another, and this would rob man of the divine right of freedom and self-government. Holding firmly to the truth of being that God is the only power, recognizing no other than the perfect man of His creating, the Christian Scientist speaks "as one having authority," and sickness and sin, error of every kind, yields to the supremacy of immortal, divine Mind. It is because he has made the demonstration again and again, with good results for both himself and others, that he sees no reason for trying to add to a perfect Science the uncertainties of human will-power, that carnal mind which St. Paul declared to be "enmity against God." Christian Scientists are not concerned about such criticisms, because they do not take into account the fact that a system which is founded upon and adheres to divine Principle, must of necessity be unvarying in its demonstration and unchanging in its results.

Archibald McLellan.

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