In the ninety-fifth psalm is an admonition which is repeated in the third chapter of Hebrews, and which reads: "To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation." By a preparation of the heart, which began in early years, Mrs. Eddy was able to hear the voice of God clearly. It led her to the discovery of Christian Science. Thereafter, it was her great desire to lead others within such hearing; and her life was devoted to this purpose. Until Christian Science was discovered mankind was largely in doubt whether or not it desired to hear God, expecting and fearing only condemnation from Him. Christian Science is rapidly changing this wrong viewpoint, showing that there is nothing more desirable or blessed than to hear and to be guided by the omnipresent intelligence called God.
The passage quoted above points out a condition necessary to spiritual hearing,—"Harden not your heart." In order to heed the admonition, it is important to know what is involved in the condition; and a brief article cannot pretend to do full justice to the subject. Like many other statements of truth found in the Scriptures, it seems to become endless in its application as its meaning unfolds to the advancing student of Christian Science. Indeed, there appears to be no circumstance where its application does not become pertinent, and even necessary, in preventing error's subtle suggestions from finding entrance to human consciousness. Like all statements based on spiritual law, it is not limited to any time or place; and a prompt reminder of its truth has often enabled the writer to escape the folly and suffering of a belief in the reality of evil.
Our subject may conveniently be considered under three heads: first, a seeming cause or supposed justification for hardening the heart; second, the effects of such hardening; third, the remedy.
