THERE are few persons who do not hope to attain greater happiness and more enduring harmony than they now enjoy. Some merely hope for a favorable turn of the wheel of fortune, while others believe they know what is necessary to bring about the desired result and they labor to that end. If the realization of their hopes seems nearer, they fancy they are making progress; and if they continue in the future as they have labored in the past, they conclude that success will reward their efforts. The goal is worthy of attainment, and the labor and sacrifice required is not a greater price than the truly deserving person is willing to pay. If one is not content to receive "a just recompense of reward" for the effort he puts forth, he has not learned that actual progress is the result of work well done, and that true success is attained only when all that is necessary to success has been accomplished.
From the human point of view it seems that it is impossible to have harmony apart from a supply of material necessities, and one is inclined to judge his success according to his ability to provide these things. If he is able to do this, he is not a failure, and is regarded by his neighbors as a successful man. It is true that there is occasionally an exception to the rule. One is found who is more concerned about the accomplishment of the work in hand than he is about the reward he is to receive, but there are few who consider the assurance of work well done a sufficient reward for their labors.
The common practice of measuring success according to the abundance of worldly possessions, is due in part at least to the belief that life is affected by material conditions and subject to material law. During the last century especially, there has been wonderful progress in providing the things which minister to human comfort, but thoughtful persons are sometimes led to question whether mortals have a higher sense of good or enjoy a greater degree of harmony because of these improved conditions. The careful observer will be ready to admit that the result in harmony and practical goodness is not what could be reasonably expected, and the question arises whether, after all, there is any real progress in what has been called progress; whether humanity is actually nearer the realization of harmonious being. If not, then progress along material lines may have led mortals to build their house on the sand instead of on the rock.
The vital question as to what constitutes real progress is determined only as one is able to perceive the source of harmony. If it is believed that matter is its source, and harmony the result of material conditions, then, as it seems, the only wise course is to look to matter and obey material law. Christian Science reverses sense-testimony and demonstrates the necessity of working from an entirely different standpoint. Contradicting material belief, it declares that if one would gain the harmony which endures, he must forsake the material sense of life and work from the standpoint of one infinite Spirit as the source of all reality. This great truth was very clearly set forth by the apostle James when he wrote: "Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
In Science and Health (p. 239), Mrs. Eddy writes: "To ascertain our progress, we must learn where our affections are placed and whom we acknowledge and obey as God. If divine Love is becoming nearer, dearer, and more real to us, matter is then submitting to Spirit. The objects we pursue and the spirit we manifest reveal our standpoint, and show what we are winning." The Master taught his followers to seek "first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," and he declared that as the result of this seeking all things necessary to progress and the present harmony would be provided. No believer in Jesus has doubted that he sought first of all the kingdom of God, and as the result of this seeking he had the abiding consciousness that whatever was necessary was already provided. The tribute-money was forthcoming when needed, there was an abundance of wine at the feast, and the famishing multitudes were fed in a desert place. These demonstrations of God's power to provide the temporal necessities were convincing proof of the truth of Jesus' teaching. When one understands that he has all necessary things, there is harmony.
The term progress implies a starting-point and a destination. It is not hard to determine the starting-point, but to know the destination and the way to reach it is more difficult. According to the Master's teaching, the only thing really worth striving for is to know God, for this is eternal life, a state of harmony. Since God is the source of all good, it follows that the only real progress is that which brings one nearer to Him. To mortal belief, God is afar off, but in reality He is ever-present. Unless one is gaining a clearer realization of this great truth, he is not progressing. God is Spirit; hence, progress must be spiritual if it leads to God. What is termed material progress often turns thought away from infinite Spirit and enthrones other gods.
The parable of the prodigal son portrays mortal man as dwelling in a far country, wasting his substance with riotous living. "When he came to himself," that is, when his eyes were opened to perceive the exceeding sinfulness of his condition, he was ready for progress. The mesmerism of material belief was broken. There was his starting-point, and the destination was his father's house.
We read in Science and Health (p. 323) that "when the sick or the sinning awake to realize their need of what they have not, they will be receptive of divine Science." It is not necessary for one to wander far away as did the prodigal son, but it is necessary for one to realize his need; and right where he is when the awakening comes, he will find his starting-point. Whether fast or slow, his progress will be sure if he follows the leadings of divine Mind, and nothing can hinder him if he is faithful to the light that is given him. Troubles will arise and he will suffer defeat when he permits the advice of others to turn him from his course. Progress is spiritual and no material belief or suggestion can hasten it. It must come as the perfectly natural result of the unfolding of the spiritual idea in consciousness. The advice of those who would counsel others in affairs wherein they have only a theoretical knowledge, is more likely to work injury than it is to accomplish good. The faithful student should turn a deaf ear to these unwise counselors and give earnest heed to the voice of Truth. Human beliefs do not agree, and the advice of different persons is oftentimes contradictory. If two persons disagree, both cannot be right, but both may be wrong. So the one who looks to personality for guidance is more likely to be led astray than he is to find the way to harmony.
Every person has some sense of good, and since in Christian Science good is accepted as another term for God, every person has some sense of Him as the source of all good. A man's understanding of God, or good, is his only weapon against evil and the only thing that will help him to gain more of good. If good could be gained by theorizing, the world would be much better than it is, for there has certainly been no dearth of theories rich in promises. More good is gained only by making practical use of what one has in his possession. The Master very forcibly emphasized this fact in the parables of the talents and the pounds. The servants who used what they had, gained more, while the unfaithful became even poorer because they did not improve the opportunity to gain greater riches.
When a man comes to himself, he sees that the principal reason why he has not been more successful is because he was not faithful in the practice of what he knew. It may be that he depended upon faith without works, or perhaps, learning from experience that generally accepted theories were of no avail, he did not continue the search until he found that which was practical and did meet his need. He may have thought he was doing the best he could, but when the awakening came, he realized that even though the odds were against him, he might have done better. He had a sense of good which was practical, at least in a degree, and if he had made the best possible use of it he would have gained much.
Christian Science may appeal to some as a theory, and perhaps there are those who derive satisfaction from the fact that they have found a theory which reveals the inconsistency of other theories and shows that they failed because they were not practical. If one is content to be satisfied with a promising theory, he should remember that "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." If Christian Science is not put into practice, it is of no avail. One should not boast that he has found a better way if he does not walk therein, neither should he esteem too lightly the efforts of those who are honestly striving, even though their views are not in accord with his own. One may attempt a right thing in a wrong way, but he has at least made an effort, and in this ho has done better than those who know and do not. Whereas he thought he was right, he learned from experience he was wrong; but this only increases his desire to know and his determination to put into practice what he learns. Willingness to learn and the desire to do, are the essentials of progress.
Whatever of good the past has brought into a man's experience, this is his starting-point, and this makes it possible for him to gain greater good. The student of Christian Science is most fortunate in that he has Science and Health, and other writings by the Leader of this movement, to aid him in gaining the spiritual sense of the Scriptures. Only as men acquaint themselves with God do they attain peace and gain the good which is eternal. To know God is eternal life, and the understanding of God includes all good, since God is infinite good, the source of all reality.
In Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "The purpose and motive to live aright can be gained now. This point won, you have started as you should. You have begun at the numeration-table of Christian Science, and nothing but wrong intention can hinder your advancement." She also says, "There should be painless progress" (pp. 326, 224). The student's progress depends entirely on himself. All necessary means for his advancement are within his reach, and it is only required of him that he be faithful. He must be a doer of the word, and not merely a hearer.
Throughout Christendom the Bible is accepted as the Word of God, the expression of infinite Mind. The inspired writers were "holy men of God," who "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." The study of the Scriptures and the Christian Science text-book spiritualizes thought and increases activity in good. These are the essentials of real progress. If one learns even a little each day, and lives what he learns, he cannot stand still, much less go backward. The only possible thing is to draw nearer the goal of harmonious being.
Even though one may not attain the realization of his hopes in a day, the present reward is a sufficient compensation. The present results of spiritual progress are manifest on every hand. Health is conceded to be one of the most valuable of our earthly possessions. Spiritual progress means better health. It is generally held that better health will result from material progress in understanding the so-called laws of health and how to obey them. Health is believed to be a condition of the material body, and mortals think that it is improved or impaired according as material health laws are obeyed or transgressed.
Christian Science is demonstrating that obedience to spiritual law is the most effectual remedy for sickness, and it improves a man's health as well as his morals. Sickness as well as sin is an abnormal condition of the human mind. The only effectual remedy for sin and disease is to get rid of the beliefs which produce them. In Spirit, God, there is no belief in sin or sickness; hence, as one gains in the understanding of God he is lifted above the mortal belief in sickness, and better physical and moral health is the result.
Progress means protection. As one advances spiritually, he escapes the bondage of evil. Spiritual freedom counteracts the supposed influence of erroneous mental suggestion. Every advancing step takes one beyond the reach of some phase of evil. Understanding is not subject to belief, neither can it be influenced by it. The belief in evil is all that can be touched by evil, which tends to destroy itself.
To one of the faithful members of the early church, John wrote, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." Progress means prosperity. The limitations of mortal belief cannot rob one of the fruits of spiritual understanding. Of the spiritually-minded man the psalmist wrote, "His delight is in the law of the Lord; . . . and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Health, protection, and a certain degree of prosperity are essential to enduring happiness. Since these are the natural results of spiritual progress, it follows that progress means happiness. No one has denied a man's right to be good. His right to health, prosperity, and happiness is as legitimate as his right to goodness and is inseparable from it. Without goodness nothing of real worth is gained. When the ever-presence and omnipotence of infinite good is realized, all necessary things are added.
