WHEN Jesus sent forth his disciples on their memorable mission "to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick," he warned them that they were going forth "as sheep in the midst of wolves," which certainly was not an alluring prospect, and that they must therefore bear themselves with the wisdom of the serpent and the gentleness of the dove. This counsel showed that the great Teacher was not in the least deceived as to what their reception was likely to be, nor as to the general lack of faith which would be shown by many to whom they would bear the life-giving message of the gospel. Not only did he prophesy a lack of faith, but also an antagonism on the part of their fellow men which would deliver these apostles to the councils and scourge them in the synagogues. The reason for this hostility of the multitude he explained in his saying, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." The disciples were going forth to preach spirituality to a very materially-minded generation, they were to use the sword of the Spirit to destroy the false beliefs of life in matter, and they were to heal those who should be worthy.
Of this work, to which the Master declared that they who believed on him were called, and that they should do even greater works than he had accomplished, a work which is as necessary today as it was in the age of the apostles, and of the antagonism of error to Truth, which still persists, Mrs. Eddy writes on page 141 of Science and Health: "Few understand or adhere to Jesus' divine precepts for living and healing. Why? Because his precepts require the disciple to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye,—that is, to set aside even the most cherished beliefs and practises, to leave all for Christ." She also writes on page 330 of Science and Health: "Until the author of this book learned the vastness of Christian Science, the fixedness of mortal illusions, and the human hatred of Truth, she cherished sanguine hopes that Christian Science would meet with immediate and universal acceptance." The recognition of this state of mortal mind did not, however, deter Jesus and his disciples from their regenerative and redemptive work for mankind, nor did it deter Mrs. Eddy from the fulfilment of the mission to which she felt she had been called, to make plain again to mankind the way pointed out by the Master, to spread abroad the truth revealed to her in her own experience, namely, that the longed-for Christ-healing is still possible to "them that believe."
The same problem confronts every Christian Scientist today, — indifference, scorn, and hatred would keep him from obedience to the Master's commands; but the joy and peace and inspiration to good works which came to our Leader in her years of unselfed labor for the uplift of mankind, and which she has crystallized in the opening statement of Science and Health, "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings," the same spirit of confident reliance on the power of infinite Truth and Love to supply every need, must come to each one who takes up the cross and follows in the footsteps of the Master as she did.
