"Fear them not, therefore; for there is
Nothing covered that shall not be revealed;
And hid, that shall not be known." —Matt. x. 26.
It begins to be seen that Mind is a power beyond what has hitherto been realized or suspected. No one that thinks but discovers, in his observations of mankind, a mighty power of thought, that is restless in its activity, that carries out its own purposes and aims, and weighs for good or evil on others. Mind acts upon mind so that no one thinks independently except in so far as, through understanding of Truth, he has gained the mastery over the false thought of mortal mind that seeks to find lodgment in his own thought, there to bear fruit after its kind.
It is revealed in Science that all action is Mind, Truth, or its counterfeit, error; the immortal Mind, the All in all, or mortal mind which is a lie from the beginning each — expresses itself in individual lives, and is recognized by its fruits. Can one perform any so-called physical act to benefit another, or speak a kind word, but there is first the impulse of desire or love in mind, that thus takes form in thought, and expression in act? Is it not seen, too, that, though no act be performed, no word spoken, the bare presence of one whose heart is filled with love to all, gives happiness, and peace, and rest, to all who are near? Such is the power of Mind for good that, consciously or unconsciously every individual living in the atmosphere of Love exercises.
The God power, through him who is the child of God, is recognized by the fruits of the Spirit. Now, as God is better understood, He is seen to be the all power that can admit of none other. Thus the understanding of this power for good proves the belief in the existence of another power to be only a belief, and by destroying it demonstrates its nothingness. Man's power for good is limited only in so far as he limits God through ignorance of Him. Through understanding of God, and thereby of himself, as God's image and likeness, man can regain his God-given dominion over all of God's creations. But he must work out his own salvation by overcoming every claim of mortal error, for evil has a supposed power until destroyed by God.
The physical acts presented to the senses do not always speak truly. A pleasing exterior may hide the serpent, and through this subtlety may charm and deceive for a time. The worst type of evil is that which does its work under cover of a semblance of good.
Thoughts filled with evil work in mortal mind, though unseen and unexpressed by physical act or word, in a way that counterfeits the action of Divine Mind. A high, pure-minded person is made uncomfortable in the presence of one who is the opposite,— whose thoughts are filled with envy, hatred, revenge, or any of the baser qualities of mortal mind. Although not a word be spoken, the very presence of such a person is an offense. As said in Science and Health, "there are persons who are enemies without the preliminary offense."
Oaths, vile language, expressions of anger and hate, or rude assaults, are all expressions of evil thoughts, and even without these physical signs they have their power for evil either consciously or unconsciously, according as they are or are not intentionally directed to harm another. Who of us could witness assaults directed against the supposed bodily life of a friend with purposes of hate and murder without doing all in our power to save the one attacked, and to bring to justice the criminal? Just such attempts and results are found in the action of one mind upon another through animal magnetism or mesmerism. Their attacks are not understood nor always credited, because of their giving no physical sign; but we who understand the Science of Mind see and are conscious of such attacks daily, and the duty of protection and exposure is laid upon us with even more urgency than in the case of material violence. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places; wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."
The workings of error in all their different forms must be revealed in order that its false claims may be denied and destroyed through the understanding of Truth, and thus proven to be nothing. Truth uncovers and lays bare the error, for all that is hidden shall be revealed. We must handle the serpent, not flee from it, and then it will become a staff in our hands. In handling the serpent, or meeting the error, we lose fear, because we have no fear of that of which we are master, and thus evil is overcome of God, and we have risen and gained a strength in Truth from the conflict. .
