The captain of a transatlantic liner, upon taking his seat at dinner one day, remarked to the passengers at his table, "The barometer is falling: it looks as though there is some nasty weather ahead." A lady inquired rather anxiously: "Will there be a storm? Do you think there is any danger?" "There may be a storm," replied the captain, "but there is no danger whatever. We are always prepared for such things." This was said with quiet assurance, and the passenger was thereupon relieved of fear.

The above incident may serve as an illustration of the elimination of fear through assurance of proper preparation. Needless to say, it was the quiet confidence of the captain which brought a sense of security. A lesson helpful to the student of Christian Science may be gained from this illustration, a lesson in accordance with divine Principle, through which to acquire that quality of thinking which is consonant with the title of this article. Should we not take daily stock of our mental defenses to see what state they are in, whether they are impregnable to meet the fury of evil when it beats against them? On board that vessel the captain each day had a thorough inspection made of every department. Also, never a moment of the day or night went by without alert watch being kept in certain parts of the ship; and the first requirement of those keeping watch was obedience to duty.

The Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, has written in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 117), "God is the fountain of light, and He illumines one's way when one is obedient." The first step, then, and the most important one, in being ready to meet the storms of mortal mind in our journey Spiritward, is obedience to divine Principle. It is well to keep this fixed in our thought; for when, through loving obedience to the demands of Truth, our pathway is illumined, the obstacles which appear to beset us are more clearly discerned, and therefore more easily guarded against. It is invariably the unseen error which gives the most trouble; and such is the subtle nature of error that, without the spiritual illumination which strict obedience to divine law confers, evil will oftentimes find its way into one's consciousness in the guise of good. A false sense of security may be entertained in this way, and the unwary traveler may wonder why his progress is slow, and perhaps painful. Moreover, unless this phase of error is detected and destroyed, one may be the means of causing others to stumble and fall.

The earnest student of Christian Science early learns that the spiritual illumination which understanding of and obedience to the laws of divine Principle confer, gives us power not only to discern the nature of the errors which claim to confront us, but also to prove their nothingness. The premise from which all scientific conclusions are educed in Christian Science is God's allness. God, good, being All-in-all, how can evil have any reality? How can it have any existence, or be in any place? It cannot. The logic is irrefutable, and can always be demonstrated in Christian Science. Evil being a negation, the supposititious opposite of God, or good, it can only delude, or seem to be something, through ignorance of the truth about its delusiveness, just as any lie may deceive through ignorance of the falsity of that lie. Until, however, the world is ready to give up its material way of thinking for the true and practical spiritual way which Christian Science teaches, evil will continue in its attempts to deceive mankind with its false claims. It therefore devolves upon those who have some measure of understanding of the truth of being, to keep ever alert and prepared to demonstrate the living truth as the one and only reality. This is a responsibility to be accepted joyously.

The mariner at his post accepts his responsibility without hesitation, and usually with a sense of pride in the performance of his duty. Should not we, as under orders from him who said, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch," be just as assiduous in our duty to be on guard against the myriad false claims of evil? Surely we should keep ourselves so well prepared that when the lie called evil seems to threaten, not only in individual cases, but also in social, political, and religious affairs; when it appears to stultify the thinking of vast numbers of the country's citizens, during times of either civic or national importance—times when intelligent and righteous thinking is most requisite—we may be prepared, through the spiritual illumination which dutiful obedience confers, to do our part fully in the grand work of demonstrating evil's nothingness, because of God's omnipotent goodness and love.

This watching requires that we be always prepared. Our God-given dominion lies along this course. Christianly scientific right thinking conveys immeasurable power, and it is the privilege of man in God's likeness to reflect and express this power without measure. We can, and should, prepare ourselves to do the "greater works" which Jesus said shall be done by those who believe on him. God is ready for us to do them. To what extent are we ready—or getting ready? "Divinity is always ready. Semper paratus is Truth's motto," writes our Leader on page 458 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures;" and following that, on the same page she states, "The Christian Scientist wisely shapes his course, and is honest and consistent in following the leadings of divine Mind." This surely brings us squarely before a most necessary procedure, namely, to take frequent stock of our honesty and consistency. Truth's motto being "Semper paratus," can we say truly that we are consistent Christian Scientists unless we are keeping that motto ever before us while claiming to be God's children, or reflections of Truth? The world needs us as consecrated and consistent workers in God's vineyard. Then let us not temporize by simply saying that we will try to be obedient to Principle, but let us adopt Truth's motto without equivocation, and resolve to think only on those things which are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report, and so be always ready to overcome—by seeing evil as unreal and Truth as omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent good.

"Semper paratus" should be the motto and the watchword of us all. Without it we cannot go far in our heavenward journey; without it our demonstrations can be only spasmodic, our full God-given dominion unclaimed. Strict adherence to this motto will enable us to scale the heights, and step by step to overcome every belief of limitation. The way is straight and narrow; but what glorious achievements, what unparalleled joy, may be ours if we will only walk in it!

Copyright, 1929, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts, Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.