In "Miscellaneous Writings" (pp. 306, 307), in an article entitled "Angels," our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, gives us the method of deliverance from every belief in lack or limitation. In the first place, she defines the touch of God's angels as "a spiritual idea that lights your path." Then she quotes from the Psalmist, "He shall give His angels charge over thee;" and she goes on to say, "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies." Here, then, is the way to become conscious of all good,—to understand and demonstrate that "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies."
Immediately the questions present themselves: What are spiritual ideas? and, How do they give us supplies? In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 88) Mrs. Eddy tells us, "Ideas are emanations from the divine Mind." The divine thoughts, therefore, which come to us from divine Mind, Spirit, are spiritual ideas, which in turn give us daily supplies. Christian Science unfolds, simply and clearly, the way in which these ideas meet our need when it tells us over and over again that we are to cling to good thoughts, using— reflecting—them at all times and under all circumstances. How easy, then, to see that these God-given ideas will produce naturally all right effects!
Take, for instance, the divine idea of truth. If one entertains this gift of God, this idea of divine Mind with its resultant honesty, and allows it to reflect its activity in his own thinking, what wonders will be produced! This idea will bring forth strength of character along a thousand lines; will be rewarded with the confidence of all who come in contact with it; will inspire faith wherever it is met. One governed by this idea will be trusted in every undertaking and great blessing will accrue to others as well as to himself as a consequence.
God is always causing His children to reflect intelligence. Suppose we unite ourselves consciously with the idea of divine intelligence,—what may we not accomplish? Think of the way this divine idea, this emanation from divine Mind, will light our pathway! Think of the wealth of wisdom and power it will shower upon the one who accepts it and allows it to control his every thought, word, and deed! Jesus, who did this perfectly, who refused ever to admit for an instant that he could be governed by anything less than this divine idea,—was he not the most valuable man the world has ever known? Think of the marvelous way this idea supplied him daily, directing him in every circumstance, under every condition. He never lacked wisdom; he never lacked power; he never lacked in any way.
One also recognizes that any idea which emanates from divine Mind is always universal. Because it is infinite in nature it is ever present to work for every one who will accept it and unite himself with it. To do this is to find one's self at-one with all the good connected therewith. It is thus that the spiritual ideas which God gives to us so freely, so infinitely, so lovingly, supply us daily with all that we need.
Another wonderful thing about a divine idea is that as we trust it, allowing it to work, this idea will go forward marking out its own way and winning its own perfect results. If we stay behind, rather than in front of, a divine idea, we shall find ourselves protected from the attacks of error, and we shall share in the blessings which always attend the pathway of every right idea. A difficulty with Christian Scientists is, that, if they discern a spiritual idea,—if they recognize this angel touch,—they too frequently begin to exclaim: "Make way! Here we come! We and an idea!" That is to say, they are apt to imagine they must mark out the path a spiritual idea is to traverse; that they must proclaim its presence, or others will not know it is there; that they must see that others accept this idea which has been revealed to them, if it is to be properly recognized and applauded and followed; that they need to fight for it, to force it forward. Instead, no spiritual idea will ever bring us daily supplies unless it is accepted with the true humility which, recognizing it is of divine Mind, is willing to let it lead and direct and govern and bring forth its own precious fruit.
In the home, in the church, in business, out in the world at large, how rapidly would God's kingdom be acknowledged if Christian Scientists would learn this lesson perfectly—this lesson of letting spiritual ideas win their own blessed way among men! How quickly would these ideas proclaim their own desirability; how gently would they go forward smoothing out the rugged paths and making "the crooked places straight," the "rough places plain," causing the desert to "blossom as the rose," and pouring out harmony and loveliness wherever they appear!
This is not in any way an argument against the right audible presentation of a divine idea, or the wise advocacy of its general acceptance. This should, however, be done only in obedience to the idea itself; and then the idea should be left alone with God, its source, to continue and complete its own perfect work. Divine Mind has infinite ideas wherewith to bless men, and all may to-day look up with boundless rejoicing, since Christian Science teaches the way whereby it may be proved that "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies."
