This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
JOHN XV. 12-14.
It is common-sense that successful business-men use in the commercial world. They only take a rational view of cause and effect in their sphere of operations. They must risk much, as all things in mortal mind are so subject to change and revolution.
There is a class of men in the financial world, however, who have come into possession of money not earned by experience, who have very broad and high notions of the way business should be done; and they generally end their career by acquiring experience and practice, while the business-men acquire the money. Of course neither class is richer or wiser in reality; but, for the time, one is happy and the other is sad.
Turning from sense to Science, there is just as much common-sense and practical work to be done therein as in the affairs of the world. The glorified Master of Life, Truth, and Love came to teach and establish on earth the Kingdom of Love, i. e. the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of mankind. After three years of constant teaching and demonstration, and after they had spiritually discerned the true God and the true man, Jesus gave them some very practical commands.
He said: "I have taught you how to overcome the world, the flesh, and the evil. I have shown you the true way of Life. I have given you the knowledge, in part, that I have learned of our Father and Creator. I have taught you how you are to demonstrate your control over sin, sickness, sorrow, and death. I have given you, in my teachings, the understanding of Life, which gives you dominion over the earth. You are now ready to teach this Gospel to the world. Your position is the highest which men or women can occupy on the earth. Your calling to the work is from God. I am about to leave the work all in your hands, under this one command, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. I lay down my life to prove my faith, and my love to you and for the world. If this test is required of you, you must do likewise. You will find no comfort in the world. The world will hate and persecute you. Your real safety and success will be in your humility, and in your love for each other. There you have a little kingdom within yourselves, that will give you peace, because I shall be with you in Spirit. You shall ask for yourselves of the Father; and, if my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be given unto you. Herein is your defence from the world, your victory over the world, and the power by which you are to attain the perfection of the Father. You must do it. The Spirit of Truth, which comes to you from the Father through me, is ever positive, that it may destroy error, which is always negative. Unless your motives and actions are ruled by Love, you will have discord in your own ranks, and be overcome by your enemy."
Though not the precise language, this was the common-sense and practical advice that Jesus gave his disciples. They had done well in demonstrating their power over sickness; but they had a hard struggle to demonstrate their power over ambition, avarice, the pride of life, envy, and spiritual vanity, before they were fitted for their work. They founded the true Church, and for three-hundred years the Truth was preached with demonstration and power. They failed through disobedience, and twelve-hundred years of darkness ensued.
Do you not believe God has spoken to His human children in this age by the mouth of His prophet? If you have that faith, you must prove it by fulfilling the command of this text. The conditions of discipleship are the same in all ages. The enemy to be overcome is the same, and the unity of Good is the only power that can carry this cause in this age. Faith in and obedience to our Teacher, love for the Truth, love for one another, and earnest, honest effort with our fast-growing army, will soon revolutionize the present system of effort to destroy error with error, both in medicine and in theology. Let us think of these things!
I have found a need for this little sermon in myself, and it may lead others to examine themselves. We are not studying sentiment, but Science. We are not preparing for peace, but for war.
