In a recent book the descriptive phrase "an arm-chair Christian" is used; and it may well be applied to some Christian Scientists who have long been resting, resting in the deep comfort of our Leader's demonstration, and, with all her blessed books telling of Truth and Love in a little rack close beside them, have—to turn about an old quotation—dreamed noble things, not done them, all day long. But how our Leader stresses the demand of Science for demonstration! "Be active," is her rallying cry. She says, "Be active, and, however slow, thy success is sure: toil is triumph; and—thou hast been faithful over a few things" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 340). Could there be a message more heartening? However long or twisting and twining the problem may seem, each effort to reach the Christ-way of solving it— though it be a faltering effort—cannot fail to bring the triumph of added assurance.
On page 204 of "Miscellaneous Writings" our Leader has used the phrase "deep-toned faith in God." Each demonstration leads to this, the scientific certainty by which we prove that what we name Christian Science is in very fact Science,— divine, immutable, absolute, glorious, bringing out sure harmony throughout all the variations in human affairs. If we could but realize more constantly and clearly that demonstration does not consist in making anything different, but in bringing out that which is, by means of the activity in human thought of the divine Principle of all harmony,—the divine Principle which silences the discords of sense, one jarring note after another, until the rhythm of Spirit becomes manifest! In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 510) our Leader has told us, "To discern the rhythm of Spirit and to be holy, thought must be purely spiritual."
Such spirituality of thought, constantly, steadfastly, applied to every experience, brings out scientifically by means of its fixed Principle all the sweet concord of true being, the eternal reality and unity and continuity of good. There is nothing comparable to the joy of discerning the rhythm of Spirit; and no theoretical arm-chair meditation can sound it.
