ONE of the most important lessons taught by Paul to his beloved Timothy was that every man is called of God to eternal life, and that the attainment of this knowledge constitutes his individual work. The call to the Adam man was, is, and ever will be, "Have you overcome a personal sense of life as in matter by the spiritual perception of Life as God?" This call of Truth is heard by each one when the call of the world ceases to hold his attention. It is impossible to heed both voices at the same time. When the call of Truth becomes paramount, its first effect on the individual is that it leads him to self-examination. If this is followed up by obedience to Truth, there comes a great love for Truth, and a sincere desire to help his fellow-man.
Jesus said, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted." He knew that those who are sorrowful already feel the instability of worldly things, and are beginning to listen to the promise of immortality. The Christians at Corinth were told that few who were wise in worldly knowledge heard this call to eternal life, for they regarded as foolishness the unseen verities. "It is written," said Paul, quoting the prophets, who centuries before his time had warned the Hebrews in these words, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Few of might and influence in worldly affairs hear this call to eternal life, for they believe in the power of materiality, the god of this world. Few of the self-styled great ones hear this call to eternal life, for they are satisfied with the pomp and splendors of this world. When, on the last day of the feast, Jesus stood in the temple at Jerusalem and gave the inspired teaching concerning the Spirit which all that believed on him should receive, the question was asked in derision, "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?" No, not one.
Paul says, "None of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself." As this spiritual fact is discerned, men recognize the fact that they have a special life-work to perform. This thought governs their action, while days, weeks, and years take on a deeper significance as filled with opportunities for reaching perfection. Thus, "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God," wrote, "I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Jesus, called from the beginning, left us these comforting words: "As I hear, I judge;" and, "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." He had overcome death and laid hold on eternal life.
Christian Science teaches us that we are to begin our work by knowing "the only true God." It is a new life, a mental state in which we find ourselves undisciplined in hearing the voice and impatient in waiting for divine guidance. Meanwhile one is called to attain perfection in the various physical environments of office, farm, schoolroom, and home. In theory the Christian Scientist knows that discord has no birth, existence, or reality, but it has to be proven in his own experience as well as with his associates. He sees his high calling in the commands and example of Jesus. He is not fitted to take his place before the world as a practitioner, and in the name of Christ to cast out evils, until there has been a preparation of the heart by Truth. As Christian Science work is done mentally, opportunity for service is found everywhere. The honest beginner is constantly encouraged when he sees in his daily affairs the effect of clear scientific thought. For the first time in his life the universal welfare of mankind appeals to him., and he grows alert to the issues, all mental, in the political, economic, and religious world, understanding "that all things work together for good to them that love God."
There were apostles, prophets, teachers, and healers who were called of God in the primitive Church. We read, "There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." Each person worked according to his calling until he could come into a realization of all the gifts through love. Thus by a special gift was "Israel led out," and thus humanity is being led out to-day by Mrs. Eddy. When a leader is appointed to do a special work, it is because he has manifested universal love to the extent that Truth uses him for that work. It is the operation of the law of supply and demand, cause and effect, in the realm of the real. Spiritually minded above his fellows, he clearly discerns "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world," and he involuntarily radiates that Light. To him there is one great First Cause,— the one Life. Transported by this thought, he becomes causative to his less spiritually minded companions, by a selfless, omniactive reflection of this one Life. Truth is his goal; justice his practice; he sees Principle apart from person; he is unmoved by either praise or insult; he receives ill will and returns good will; he is one with God, who supplies him with strength from the inexhaustible source, divine Love. Even as the north star guides the traveler by land and by sea, so the spiritual leader guides his followers from pleasure and pain up to God.
When Abraham heard the call, "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee," he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and sought a new home where he could worship the true God. "Put away," said Joshua, "the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood." He also said, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood." The migration from Ur was a religious one, for we learn that Abraham was called to break from the open idolatry of the world at that time, to throw off the chains of custom and to release himself from the thraldom of early associations. Abraham rediscovered the great normal idea of worship by means of the spiritual conception of the one Life, the eternal Life, without the aid of figure or symbol. This teaching has descended through the Jewish and Christian prophets, until to-day there is verified in Christian Science the promise made to Abraham, that, because of his "faith in the divine Life and in the eternal Principle of being" (Science and Health, p. 579), in him should "all the nations of the earth be blessed."
The little band of Hebrews led out by Abraham were faithfully taught the one omnipotent God, and we read that seven hundred years later their descendants had become a great people, and had again fallen under the bondage of idolatrous surroundings. Moses, who had been wonderfully prepared by his previous life for this high mission, was called from "the burning bush" by the declaration, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." This declaration expressed not only the eternal self-existence of the one Life, but continuously linked together for these seven hundred years Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in this one Life. Thus was Moses called by the voice of the ages to deliver his people, and they were to obey his commandments, although they might not always understand the reason for so doing. From this spiritual leader has come down to us the Mosaic Decalogue, on which is built all English and American common law, including the fundamentals, engrafted into the Constitution of the United States, of religious freedom, equality of men, and the omnipotence of God. Moses set forth in song and psalm the greatness and the weakness of Israel, as well as the unity of God against all material systems. At one hundred and twenty years of age his sight and freshness of youth was unabated, and he was absorbed in the interests and hopes of Israel. This selflessness made him the leader of the people of God, and through him have all the nations of the earth been blessed.
The Hebrews had a comparatively easy time while they journeyed under the wise leadership of Moses, but now they were to cross the turbulent Jordan and take a stand in Canaan. It was a crisis, for they were to invade, meet, and overcome aggressive error. Joshua, who through previous training as a slave in Egpyt and as a companion to Moses had been prepared for his appointed work, was commanded by God to lead them, and was told to "be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." With the simplicity of a child he was led on by divine impulse, and never once swerved from his high purpose. At last "the land rested from war;" it was divided among the tribes, and the people said unto Joshua, "The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey." As a leader Joshua has left to us an example of spiritual strength and fearlessness, when he knew he was in the right, that finally overcame all enemies and blessed all nations.
If the Hebrews had kept the covenant made with God at Shechem, in the time of Joshua, they would have been saved from years of warfare, but they did not separate themselves from the heathen tribes about them, and therefore gradually became like their neighbors. Hannah, a woman of high religious nature, by earnest, unceasing, silent prayer received the desire of her heart, and gave her child to the service of God before his birth. Samuel was sleeping in the tabernacle when called of God. He heard, obeyed, and began to lead his people to eternal life. It is written that his words were treasured up and that Shiloh became the resort of those who came to hear him. According to Smith's Bible Dictionary this spiritually minded child became the instrument whereby not only was a reform effected in the priestly order, but the office of the prophets was raised to one of great importance. He was the founder of the first institution for educational and religious instruction, and in this "school of the prophets" at Ramah was taught the idea of one eternal Life,—God,—and the expected Messiah; and from that time until Jesus came to earth there was always a prophet in Israel. Surely through Samuel have all the nations of the earth been blessed!
David is a striking example of the students who were trained in this "school of the prophets." It is written in Samuel, "So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel at Ramah." The beautiful story of David's having been called of God from the midst of his brethren is familiar to us all; how Samuel anointed him as a leader and how David was made king by the united voice of the people after manifold trials. In his last song he has summed up a striking union of the ideal of a just ruler which he had placed before him and the difficulties of realizing it: "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain." The songs of spiritual joy and gratitude which David sang have blessed us and enabled all the nations of the earth better to "lay hold on eternal life." David pointed on to Christ Jesus, who was to come one thousand years later, in these words: "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from, the river unto the ends of the earth."
Jesus, the immaculate, was called to be a leader of the people from the first concept in the Hebrew mind of omnipotent God. He said, "I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." His first recorded words were, "I must be about my Father's business." Isaiah had prophesied of the Christ, "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." Until our Master's time, the highest concept of God had been accompanied in the thought of men with material methods for its advancement, but his advent was heralded by "On earth peace." His work was to be entirely in the mental realm, for it was purification of thought which he taught by word and deed. Jesus was called of God to do a special work, and this work was accomplished, thereby blessing all nations.
We find by careful study of the Scriptures that Mrs. Eddy has summed up in her great life-work the essential points brought out in the history of the long line of spiritual leaders. Every student of Science and Health has read these words by its author: "When God called the author to proclaim His Gospel to this age, there came also the charge to plant and water His vineyard" (Science and Health, Pref., p. xi.). As in the case of all the spiritual leaders before her time, she says, "God had been graciously fitting me during many years for the reception of this final revelation of the absolute divine Principle of scientific mental healing" (Science and Health, p. 107). As Abraham, by faith heard God's call and came out from the traditions, customs, and idolatry of his fathers, thereby teaching his family the true idea of God, so our Leader came out from the bondage of scholastic theology,materia medica, and material idolatry, thus teaching us to know God and our true sonship. As Moses led his people from bondage and taught them to depend upon God in time of trial, and to look to Him for their supply, so she has led us out of the bondage of limitation and taught us that "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." As Joshua invaded, met, and overcame the enemies to Truth, thus bringing the Israelites into a permanent inheritance, so has she led us into the realm of limitless Mind and given us a steadfast heritage of understanding therein. As Samuel was called of God when a child and afterwards established the "school of the prophets," from the teaching whereof came prophetic vision and spiritual leading, so three thousand years later she was called of God when a child, and afterwards established a metaphysical college, that instruction might be given respecting the method of the Christ-healing. As David, in the Psalms, taught that humility and penitence are the first steps toward God, and gave us the music of a purified life, so Mrs. Eddy has taught us the same lesson in her "Miscellaneous Writings," and given us her songs of praise which fill our churches and our homes with spiritual joy. Through her obedience to God's commands she has proved to us the practicability of the words and works of Jesus, the perfect Christian Scientist, and like Jesus she has set us an example of loving her enemies,— those who despitefully use her and persecute her.
There is one Leader in Christian Science, and one revelation for all time recorded in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Both the Leader and the revelation call us to "lay hold on eternal life,"— to look inward and overcome envy, malice, and revenge; to look outward and pattern our lives after the perfect example of Jesus of Nazareth: and to look upward to the everlasting God and Father. Bernard wrote: "Good works are the way to the kingdom, not the cause of entering the kingdom." The right concept of God, the infinite Life, Truth, Love, brings to Christian Scientists that unity of thought and action which was characteristic of the primitive Church.
