"Alertness to Duty"

MARGUERITE SCOTT TILL

In the Manual of The Mother Church (p. 42), in the By-law headed "Alertness to Duty," Mrs. Eddy tells us: "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."

The members of our Christian Science churches recognize the importance of individual faithful obedience to this command. The question, "What is the best way to defend ourselves against aggressive mental suggestion?" is often asked by those about to join our ranks. A simple illustration may be useful. When water in sufficient quantity is poured on a fire, it will speedily extinguish the flames. In the same way we can pour our knowledge of the power of good upon an erroneous belief, and this knowledge will finally annihilate it. Indeed, the understanding and demonstration of good is the only extinguisher of the belief of evil.

Clearly, then, it is imperative that the first step to take in our defense against "aggressive mental suggestion" is to quench in our thinking every sinning sense or erroneous belief. To do this we must be willing to relinquish the false concepts we have been holding. It is only by doing this that we can become qualified to aid ourselves and others. Only thus the light of Truth, the light of overflowing love, of tender mercy, deep compassion, and good will to men, can find place in our consciousness. Many to-day have begun to realize the mighty power of good which has pervaded the centuries. This power is capable of doing wonders; and it does not need the aid of human device. Jesus understood the power of good so well that he used it for the redemption of mankind. With it he refuted and disproved every kind of evil belief, of sin, disease, and death included.

Mrs. Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, through her discernment and practice of divine good, understood this power. And she became God's messenger to this age. She lighted the torch of Truth which now blazes from east to west, from north to south. In her writings she reminds us of the Bible promise that as the image and likeness of God we can do the works which Jesus did, and which he bade us do. Beautifully she expresses man's relation to God and the power which this relationship confers upon us, where she says (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 235): "By this system [Christian Science], too, man has a changed recognition of his relation to God. He is no longer obliged to sin, be sick, and die to reach heaven, but is required and empowered to conquer sin, sickness, and death; thus, as image and likeness, to reflect Him who destroys death and hell. By this reflection, man becomes the partaker of that Mind whence sprang the universe." What a promise is this! A promise which everyone may demonstrate for himself.

Very few, if any, to-day have manifested divine goodness sufficiently to express its control over everything unlike Spirit, God. Yet, if we would but heed Paul's kindly admonition to the Ephesians, and put on "the whole armour of God," we would be able to withstand "the wiles of the devil," and would find that "the marvellous healing-power of goodness is the outflowing life of Christianity" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 199). What is it that the sick, hopeless, and helpless reach out for in their hour of need, when every material remedy has failed? What do the sinners yearn for, stricken with their sin? Good. They are therefore reaching out beseeching hands to God. Do they find God, good, reflected by us when they come to us for help? Do we know good so well that we can express it to our brother in our deeds? Or must this brother pass along still seeking for the good we fail to give him?

Daily we should ask ourselves: "Have I in thought and deed put on 'the whole armour of God'? Am I 'strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might'? Am I manifesting that goodness, that holiness, which is the atmosphere of Love divine, and which saves and heals? Am I free from evil beliefs, from sinful desires, lusts, and greed? Have I put thoughts of self away, those thoughts of self which disqualify to aid? Have I asked God that I may love greatly to-day?" For only love can reach and heal human ills and lift human burdens. If we can answer, "Yes," then we are reflecting the light of Truth; and shining with reflected light from heaven, we can let the people see the works of God.

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