"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Blessed are true thoughts; for they are in and of the Father, divine Mind. It was some years after learning of Christian Science before the writer awakened to the true value of thoughts, their nature and effects, and the need of watching that none but the pure among them found a listening ear. Healing from a so-called incurable disease had been accomplished during a few weeks' treatment, when Christian Science was first presented; but after five years of physical freedom a severe mental trouble presented itself, and with it, apparently, came the fear of every disease. It was at this time that the distinct nature of health-giving and joy-inspiring thoughts was revealed to her, and likewise an understanding of the opposite nature of down-dragging, disease-bringing thoughts. This heretofore slightly apprehended subject was the means of pointing the way to rapid progress in spiritual awakening.
It might be thought strange that a subject so much dwelt upon in Christian Science, the subject which is largely foundational in its teachings, should have been so dimly discerned. But is it not true that, although much joy and satisfaction may be gained from the first glimpse into the wondrous truths of Christian Science, a time comes when the heart-hunger for more light reveals the need of more accurate analysis of thought, before real progress can be made? Progress in Christian Science is always commensurate with right thinking; and as we understand the nature of right thoughts and lay hold upon them, we bring into our experience the joy and peace of their holy ministry; we lose the suffering attendant upon the entertainment of evil suggestions.
God is all there is; and He is divine Mind. To know God, then, is to know His thoughts; and to abide with His thoughts is to find peace and heaven, health and holiness. His thoughts, or true thoughts, necessarily partake of the divine nature and bring the blessings of God to mankind. A pure thought is most precious. Entertaining a true thought we stand in the presence of God, live consciously in divine Life, and find home and heaven. Let any one cherish a beautiful thought to the exclusion of all else for even one day, and behold the marvelous results!
The writer remembers with deepest gratitude the protection realized, during many weeks of mental darkness, from an angel thought voicing itself in the words of Scripture: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Evil suggestions of darkness clamored loudly for admittance; but the protection of this God-given thought was realized to the utter destruction of evil's seeming power and presence. No evil can stand before a right thought. Power and dominion are reflected in these right thoughts, because they are of God. Safe refuge is found in their presence, because of their uplifting, all-infolding nature. Evil suggestions, which never rise above earth because of their lower nature, cannot reach a heaven-born, upward-tending thought. Carried on the wings of holy thoughts, one is safely lifted above their grasp.
Because God is ever present, right thoughts are always present. Representatives of God, they constitute His holy kingdom and reflect His omnipresence, bring His peace, manifest His might, demonstrate the strength and reality of good, annihilate all unlike themselves. Right thoughts are productive, joy giving, joy inspiring, heaven revealing, health bestowing, and invigorating.
Our thoughts govern our bodies and our circumstances. One who is sick or laboring under a sense of limitation has but to look into his thought to prove this. Does it ever take long for one who is sick to find the presence of some sickly thought? Is not some sense of darkness, dread, disappointment, dissatisfaction, discouragement, fear, self-condemnation, or self-righteousness finding an attendant ear? Is not one who is bowed by a sense of limitation—lack of supply, lack of friends, lack of love—busily engaged in entertaining the whisperings of self and fear, matter and material sense? Lack cannot be known in the presence of a spiritual idea, because of the very immunity of the latter from evil. Free and unlimited, a spiritual idea abides in unlimited spiritual good, because no matter is there. A thought of limitation always has matter for its object, and always clings to its object, matter. Some material thing seems lacking; and yet, matter is wholly unreal! Matter and limitation are one.
Could any one ever have friends while entertaining a belief that he has none? Friends are the outward manifestation of good thoughts and true ideas, which God supplies abundantly. Then there should be plenty of friends; and lack of them is nothing but an ignorant belief without presence or reality. Could one, ignorantly misled by such a thought, ever know the joy of a friend? Was any good ever gained by listening to an evil suggestion? Is there any good in the nature of evil? Could evil promise any joy? Surely not. How ready we should be to say to these evil thoughts and fears: I have not one second to listen to you; my gaze is fixed; spiritual thoughts are guiding me onward and upward; and I refuse to be turned backward or to be dragged downward!
Our beloved Leader has given us wise counsel in these words from "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 210): "Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them." We cannot be too prompt in obeying, seeing that, as the Scripture says, "The end of all things is at hand...when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." Having obtained the reward of a faithful watchman, all may rejoice.
