"The peace of God"

RUTH MC CULLOUGH

NEARLY two thousand years ago, Paul the Apostle wrote to the Philippians, "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." During the centuries that have intervened many have striven to bring peace into their experience, but have resorted in most instances to material methods for obtaining it. Over half a century ago the true method of obtaining "the peace of God" was revealed and defined. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science and the author of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," brought to a peace-hungry world the solution of its problems. To-day, in all parts of the world, millions of people, through the study and application of Christian Science, are experiencing the peace "which passeth all understanding."

We may ask why it was that the multitude who desired and strove for peace before the discovery of Christian Science, failed to gain it. It was because they failed to recognize that peace, which is a spiritual quality, can never be realized through the use of material methods. Paul knew that peace is of God; and thus he understood that spiritual man, the image and likeness of God, has never for an instant been deprived of peace. To realize this in our human experience, however, we must strive earnestly and humbly to let that Mind be in us "which was also in Christ Jesus," and to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, remembering Mrs. Eddy's words on page 264 of Science and Health, "Spiritual living and blessedness are the only evidences, by which we can recognize true existence and feel the unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love."

Through the study of Christian Science we perceive that peace includes calmness, but never inaction. One who understands and bases his living upon divine Principle, God, is conscious of the omnipresence of Love, which enables him to be actively calm under any circumstance.

The story of Peter's release from prison, which is found in the twelfth chapter of Acts, furnishes a lesson which is inspiring. The night before he was to be brought before the people, although bound in chains and guarded, Peter was not disturbed, but slept peacefully, while "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him." An angel, spoken of by Mrs. Eddy as "a message from Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 308), came to him, bidding him arise and prepare to leave the prison. In unquestioning obedience Peter did as he was told, and he was directed to the prison gate, which opened, allowing him to go free, with a fuller realization of the protecting power of divine Love.

When the dark shadows of a night of discord may seem to be about us, let us follow Peter's example, and with patient obedience wait to be delivered from the prison of belief in a power apart from God, and to be led into the light, realizing all the while that divine Love ever guards and guides her children.

"O thou God of Peace, be near us,
Fix within our hearts Thy home;
With Thy bright appearing cheer us,
In Thy blessed freedom come.
Come with all Thy revelations,
Truth which we so long have sought;
Come with Thy deep consolations,
Peace of God which passeth thought!"

A nation's peace is dependent upon that of the individuals who constitute the nation. Each individual demonstration of peace brings nearer the world realization of peace, when all shall understand and demonstrate the truth Mrs. Eddy proclaims on page 340 of Science and Health, where she writes: "One infinite God, good, unifies men and nations; constitutes the brotherhood of man; ends wars; fulfils the Scripture, 'Love thy neighbor as thyself.'"

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