MOTIVE largely determines the quality and nature of every thought and deed. The impelling influence in all situations is born of thought and is motivated by some kind of desire. One seeks those things which he values, whether they be good or bad, and he thereby reveals his motives. The work of a Christian Scientist, like that of the Master, Christ Jesus, is to help men to understand and appreciate the things of Spirit, so that their interests and attractions shall become spiritual. As one's affections grow Spiritward, his acts will be inclined thus, and he will then work with truer and better motives.

It is of interest and value to know that the Master worked always with spiritual motives. At the early age of twelve, sitting in the temple with the learned doctors, asking them questions and listening to them, Jesus asked of those who came to take him home, "How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" His constant adherence to spiritual law revealed the righteousness of his purpose and achievement. This fact reveals to us that whatever is done intelligently, in conformity with God's law and expression, is motivated and supported by His law. Therefore right motives and their effects cannot die.

During the period between the cessation of spiritual healing as taught by Jesus and the discovery of Christian Science, which restored his teachings and their effects, human interests were in the main directed along the line of material research and experimentation; and the human family in general has wandered in the darkness of ignorance of God in search of a way to escape from the fears and tragedies of its own miscreating

Assuming the title of material law and basing its conclusions upon material experimentation, this accumulation of false beliefs, lacking enlightened spiritual motive, has limited the liberty of mankind, but is now being met and destroyed by the law of God revealed in Christian Science. Today, thousands of men and women rejoice in their spiritual progress made possible through the restoration of this newold teaching of Christ Jesus. The freedom and gratitude of these thousands of happy men and women engrave the authenticity of Christian Science into the tablets of eternal achievements, as a revealed religion come from God. Consequently, by first enriching their affections with spiritual motives, that they may become better Christian Scientists, large numbers of these grateful people have forsaken material aspirations for the consecrated practice of this truth as servants of God and their fellow men.

With them, the beliefs of materialism are giving way to spiritual unfoldment. Divine Mind, instead of matter, is more clearly recognized as the cause, and therefore the motivating influence in the light of higher understanding. It is being learned that no good ever came from a belief in God's absence, for God is good; that no truth ever existed apart from God, for God is Truth; that there is no power aside from God, for God is omnipotent.

Material research offers no security of advancement either in spiritual understanding or in morals. It is through a knowledge not of physics but of Christian metaphysics that men will find their way to joy and freedom. Qualities of God are qualities of preservation. There can be no amalgamation of mortal and immortal qualities. Medicine, diet, and mental suggestion may arrest the attention of mortals under the guise of so-called physical science, but to look upon matter as a healing or saving agency is to misunderstand the source of all health and preservation. Mixed motives result in confusion.

That which is generally accepted as a normal practice may become detrimental to one's growth through entertaining a wrong motive while indulging that practice. For instance, water may be used as a medicine if it be taken with the thought of producing health or for the removal of some bodily ill. Exercise, climate, sleep, may all be distorted into false gods by resorting to them beyond measure or as remedial means.

True motives break the spell of unenlightened beliefs. They enliven human interests in things eternal, remove secular and racial disagreements, overthrow bigoted ambition, temper social aspirations, and unite humanity in the comforts of one God and one Way-shower. They interpret the language of Spirit and plant men's feet on hallowed ground. In her sermon entitled "Christian Healing" Mrs. Eddy has written (p. 7): " 'The new tongue' is the spiritual meaning as opposed to the material. . . . It begins with motive, instead of act, where Jesus formed his estimate; and there correcting the motive, it corrects the act that results from the motive. . . . It begins in mind to heal the body, the same as it begins in motive to correct the act, and through which to judge of it."

True Christian character begins with the highest instead of the lowest standard of thought. Thus to know where he stands in this true character expression, one must know what it is that influences his thoughts and acts. Right motives are built of selflessness, purity, honesty, temperance, chastity, industry, and the like. They involve a real service to man. Mercenary or selfish motives rob both the giver and the gift of the true essence of love and joy. Wrong motives indicate poverty of character. Right motives follow in the path of wisdom, and do not result in untimely or disorderly deeds; for God supports every right desire, giving it wisdom, appointment, and strength. Mrs. Eddy states (Science and Health, p. 326): "The purpose and motive to live aright can be gained now. This point won, you have started as you should. You have begun at the numeration-table of Christian Science, and nothing but wrong intention can hinder your advancement. Working and praying with true motives, your Father will open the way."