SOMETIMES we hear people who have been only a short while in the way of Christian Science express surprise and even disappointment that it has not proved the rose-bordered path they had pictured. Because Christian Scientists as a rule manifest so much of joy and happiness, the outsider is apt to regard them as singularly free from trouble or care, and to the new-found faith the knowledge that there are still trials to be met comes with something of a shock. He has yet to learn that the joy and happiness are "palms of victory," the reward "to him that overcometh." The followers of Truth are joyous over sin repented and forsaken, over pain banished to the nothingness whence it came, over tears wiped away and the mourner comforted.
Christian Scientists as professed followers of the Master have found the Christ-way one of continuous overcoming of evil either for themselves or others. Jesus said plainly to his disciples, "In the world ye shall have tribulation." He knew that testing-times would come to them, and if they were faithful the cup of bitterness would be pressed upon them. Tribulation would come—yes, without doubt; hence his assurance of victory: "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." To them had been given power over the one evil,— "over all the power of the enemy." They were to go their way, serenely confident that even as the Master had "overcome the world," they too would emerge triumphant in the conflict with sin, disease, and death.
This is the conquest upon which Christian Scientists have entered, and they rejoice that in the nearly half-century since Mrs. Eddy's discovery of the divine ever-presence, unchanging and ever-available good, so much of evil has been cast out, destroyed. These victories have been gained not by resisting evil with evil, but in accordance with the counsel of the apostle, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." It is always a mistake to try to circumvent and defeat evil with its own weapons—to meet craft with craft. There cannot arise any emergency which would justify such practice. On page 571 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy writes: "At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you."
