In all ages there has been human evidence of a power for good traceable to no human source. In fact, but for this invisible, potent influence, mankind must long since have been irretrievably lost in the maze of sin and fear—materiality. When humbled and hard pressed by affliction, an individual is apt to turn yearningly to a higher power for salvation from his troubles. Job, for instance, oppressed by physical suffering and the loss of all that he had prized, when listening to Elihu must have yearned to understand the import of these words: "If there be a messenger ... an interpreter, ... to shew unto man his uprightness." Through such a messenger, interpreter of good, he could look for deliverance from the pit, for a ransom, for rejuvenation, joy, and righteousness. Through Job's sincere longing there came to him the true sense of God, and the restoration on the basis of Mind of that which he had lost sight of through faith in matter.

All the world is really yearning for the same spiritual awakening for which Job yearned, and it is at hand for all. Bewildered by its failure to eradicate fear, sin, and warfare, and discouraged by its inability to establish integrity and permanent health, humanity has grown more teachable. It is acknowledging that philanthropy, collective effort, and the exercise of intellect and human will, however well-intentioned, do not hold within themselves the means of salvation from conflicting motives and cross-purposes.

Whence then, it asks, can there be a message great enough to lift human thought out of chaos into order? This message is conveyed in the definition of Christ, given by Mrs. Eddy as follows: "Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness" (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 332). Scientifically speaking, this message of Christ, Truth, proclaiming God as All-in-all, can neither be questioned nor resisted. The widespread fruitage of Christian Science proves that "the true idea voicing good" is being heard above the clamor of the carnal mind; and this fruitage is destined to be multiplied until all the mental obstacles to human progress, all the seeming barriers of enmity and misunderstanding between the nations, have been dissolved by divine Love.

Material sense is the accuser of mankind, and divine Love its redeemer through spiritual sense. This sense, bearing witness to the truth and harmony of spiritual being, is incapable of recording or reporting disease, guilt, discouragement, failure, warfare. The testimony of spiritual sense, being inseparable from Spirit, is pure, perfect, regenerative, and unifying.

The message of Christian Science comes with unspeakable comfort and power to those stricken with affliction, deceived by sin, and tormented by fear. Spiritual sense unfolds the beauty and peace of real manhood. Toward the close of the chapter entitled "Christian Science Practice" it is written (ibid., p. 442), "The Jury of Spiritual Senses agreed at once upon a verdict, and there resounded throughout the vast audience-chamber of Spirit the cry, Not guilty." Through Christian Science this same liberating verdict or divine message rings out with authority. Wherever this message is heard and heeded it opens the way for the enjoyment of a new and secure sense of health and joy, for integrity and strength, for wisdom and love, which are unshaken by external evidence because they rest upon the foundation of Spirit, not matter. And into this audience-chamber of Spirit where none are guilty all are destined to find their way and their heavenly home.

There is, therefore, no timidity on the part of God's humble and mighty messengers. The "I AM" which gave authority to Moses is the same "I AM," the same Mind or divine Principle, which is today enlightening, guiding, and equipping every messenger of good tidings. Should a Christian Scientist be mentally besieged with doubt and fear as to his ability to convey with authority and success God's redemptive message to those in need, he has but to remind himself of the statement of Christ Jesus, the Way-shower, "I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me," and "He that sent me is true." Truth's witness is imbued with the power and the authority of Truth, and the authority of the message furnishes the passport to the messenger. Then with what gratitude, joy, and confidence God's faithful messengers go forth to their work each day, newly inspired, newly invigorated, and secure in the authority under which they speak and act!

The part of Christian Scientists is to realize that this message of Christ silences the opposition and overcomes the would-be resistance of materiality; that it awakens all mankind to the glad recognition of perfect God, His perfect likeness, and the one perfect spiritual creation. Confident of Truth's power and universal attraction, our Leader wrote (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 160): "The trenchant truth that cuts its way through iron and sod, most men avoid until compelled to glance at it. Then they open their hearts to it for actual being, health, holiness, and immortality."
Violet Ker Seymer