No one can be very long acquainted with Christian Science without noticing the small importance it attaches to profession and its insistence that one's convictions be demonstrated in practical life. This frequently incites irritation and impatience in the human consciousness, for the general tendency of the mortal is to stagnate. Indolence and ease too often seem to be the acme of human desire, hence the too frequent willingness that others take the responsibility and do the work. This may also account for the fact that the doctrine of redemption through vicarious suffering has found such ready acceptance. On the other hand, however, many who have been awakened to the need of activity, allow themselves to be carried away by the impulse of a desire to accomplish something, and in their haste to pull up the tares they "root up also the wheat with them," and so cause destruction more than production.

Both of these phases of human consciousness have to be dealt with in Christian Science. The first, the desire for ease, may not be the most prevalent, but it is by no means uncommon. It is generally found among that class who have for a lifetime been seeking medical treatment whenever some physical ailment appeared, until their diseases have become so complicated that the doctors fail to bring relief. Then perchance they are persuaded to try Christian Science, and as a result find healing for their physical distress. Accordingly they willingly accept this teaching; but they are possibly not so ready to be healed of their habit of running to some one for help, so they substitute a Christian Science practitioner for the doctor, and go to him to have their work done for them, without putting forth any earnest effort to help themselves. Others, again, who have found relief from their trouble and ease from their pain through Christian Science, have fallen into the mistake of thinking that the chief mission of this religion is to produce a material sense of restfulness and ease instead of activity. There are still others whose submission to a sense of mental indolence hinders them from recognizing the importance of persistent effort in order to gain progress.

All these various classes are making a terrible mistake, and need to be aroused from their lethargy. It was to such as these, no doubt, that Paul addressed the words, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Christian Science does not permit any such attitude of thought, but comes to each one with the Scriptural command, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" here as elsewhere. We must be ever on guard, sleeping or waking, against that which is waiting to catch us unawares. Working, watching, and praying is our safeguard, and gives that sense of protection which enables us to go our way unharmed and unafraid. On page 340 of "Miscellaneous Writings" we read: "There is no excellence without labor; and the time to work, is now. Only by persistent, unremitting, straightforward toil; by turning neither to the right nor to the left,seeking no other pursuit or pleasure than that which cometh from God, can you win and wear the crown of the faithful." The secret of all success is wisely directed action. Activity is the law of Mind,—is necessary, in fact, to its very existence, How can we conceive of Mind without action; for without action Mind would indeed be a nonentity. The only evidence of Mind's existence is its activity. It was when Mind, God, spoke that creation appeared. It is when Mind finds expression that action is manifested in the evolution of the universe and the harmony of the stars. In Christian Science, man is understood to be the reflection of God, and herein it accords with the Scripture, which says, "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him." Since, then, Mind is ever active, man must express action, and the mental state that would produce inactivity or stagnation is unspiritual and unnatural.

The argument, "I have so little opportunity," may present itself, but this is only another form of evil suggestion. When it is understood that man's action is but the reflection of the activity of Mind, God, then the demand for action brings its own opportunity. The effort to overcome the temptation to idleness and sloth is in itself enough to keep one at least from being entirely idle. The study of Science and Health and the other works of our Leader will expose enough of error to keep every one busy who is willing to work and apply the method given for its destruction. Right mental action is the only way of salvation for mankind, and continued right mental action is their only means of protection. Since the outward or seeming material action is only the result or manifestation of the mental, the importance of giving earnest heed to the nature of all thought-action is evident. We need to "watch and pray" as well as "work;" for if the thought be wrong, the resulting action cannot be right.

To "watch" is to examine the motives and purposes that prompt action. "In a world of sin and sensuality hastening to a greater development of power, it is wise earnestly to consider whether it is the human mind or the divine Mind which is influencing one," Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 82). It is well to remember that activity is not always usefulness. True work is the right action proceeding from the right thought; but on the other hand, the injurious and destructive results produced by the incessant activity of thought wrongly influenced, or impelled it may be by ambition, mistaken zeal, or ignorance, have been too often in evidence to be ignored. To avoid these serious consequences, much watching and praying is necessary,—watching that one's thought be not dominated by selfish desires or personal influence. To do so, we must pray, that is, lift our thought above the mere human impulse, and contemplate the perfection, the purity, the love of infinite Mind, and so bring thought into such close association with the divine sense of things that self-will and human purpose will be superseded by divine guidance. "Desire is prayer," Mrs. Eddy says, "and no loss can occur from trusting God with our desires, that they may be molded and exalted before they take form in words and in deeds" (Science and Health, p. 1). Such an attitude of thought will lead us to forget self,—it will create only a desire to shed abroad an influence that will help and bless others; it will lift us above the petty annoyances of personal conflict, and bring to the heart "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding." With thought thus attuned to the harmony of spiritual Life and Love, there must necessarily emanate therefrom a holy activity that will bring healing and salvation to mankind.

Copyright, 1915, by The Christian Science Publishing Society