In his first epistle to the Thessalonians Paul gives many exhortations towards the perfecting of the Christian faith. After admonishing the church to "ever follow that which is good," he tells them to "rejoice evermore;" or as the Greek text may be rendered, to "be always joyful." Now, unquestionably, the early Christians, just as Christian Scientists to-day, did not always feel in a mental condition which could be designated one of rejoicing. Still, it is a fact which cannot be gainsaid, that an understanding of God, such as the Apostle to the Gentiles possessed and which Christian Science enables any one to obtain at the present time, carries with it cause for rejoicing, because of the increased happiness it brings with it.
We can never think of Jesus as one who did not often rejoice. Indeed, although his work was constantly among the weary and heavy-laden, with the sinful and the sick, he possessed such a profound spiritual understanding of the allness of good, such a prophetic knowledge that evil and all its seeming effects would ultimately be entirely destroyed through spiritual understanding, that he must have gone about his labors with a happiness of heart which would often make itself manifest in rejoicing. In Luke's gospel it is recorded that the Master "rejoiced in spirit" as he pondered the beneficent nature of the revelation of God, the Father, which he had brought to the world. He also expressed himself very clearly on the subject of rejoicing to the seventy who returned to report to him the successful result of their healing mission. When they told him of their successes, he immediately turned them away from effect to cause. "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you;" he said, "but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." They were to rejoice in the knowledge they possessed of the truth, in the spiritual understanding which had enabled them to impart the truth to others and to heal others of the false beliefs of sickness and sin.
Christian Science has given to the world the Science underlying Jesus' teaching. It has revealed the law which underlay all of his sayings and all of his demonstrations; and it shows how this spiritual law is as available to-day as in his time to do the same wonderful deeds of healing as he did, and to inspire the same happiness as he possessed. It is a fact, often remarked upon by many who are not themselves Christian Scientists, that those who have accepted its teachings are among the happiest people they know. And there is not a Christian Scientist but could testify that his life has become far more joyful than before he knew of Mrs. Eddy's discovery, and gained some understanding of its import; while all Christian Scientists are aware that perfect happiness will come only when the last false belief in the reality of matter or evil has been destroyed.
