Genuine quietness, as revealed in Christian Science, is won through courage, fidelity, purity; it is the result of spiritual watchfulness, and of instant surrender to the demands of divine Principle. Apathy, nonresistance to error, and the empty repetition of statements of truth accomplish very little. In human warfare, it is not the army which remains passively on the defensive that is victorious, but rather that one which through its own activity causes the retreat of the enemy.
"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts," said Paul. This rule necessitates ruling out unruly fear and false belief. Fear springs from belief in the reality of matter. Had the disciples not thought of life as material, they would not have been afraid of the storm at sea. Jesus, knowing that man's real life is the eternal reflection of God, rebuked the threats of so-called mortal mind or matter, appearing as a storm; and we read in the gospels that "there was a great calm." This "great calm" is spiritual and perpetual; it is never invaded by error, by pain, sin, or fear. This perfect quietness is always demonstrably present; and the way to attain to it is through true thinking and the expression of spiritual qualities.
While yielding to suggestions of fear and personal sense, the Psalmist uttered the cry, "I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart." One who is seeking quietness of heart will find it helpful to analyze the seeming reason of his own disquietness. A dictionary defines "quietly" as "silently, calmly, peaceably, patiently." Thus, angry repartee is very disturbing; and rankling resentment sometimes prolongs a sense of injury long after the supposed injury was inflicted. But, like a shuttlecock, angry repartee falls to the ground when the belief in anger ceases to toss it back and forth. When, even under seemingly severe provocation, one is able to maintain a silence that is hallowed by true thoughts, and a forgiving silence, then peace is maintained, even as when Jesus "held his peace" in spite of the scorn of his enemies. In Christian Science, it is error which is surrendered in order that inner, spiritual peace shall be maintained.
