THE POWER OF VIRTUE

THERE is a short sentence on page 449 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, containing a wealth of meaning: "Only virtue is a rebuke to vice." In a Bible concordance "virtue" is described as being "in opposition to vice," and as "the generical word that contains all moral and Christian virtues under it." It is possible to speak of the virtue of kindness, humility, patience; but when used alone the word may imply the inclusion of all those qualities derived from God, good, the only Mind. As quoted above, Mrs. Eddy has used it specifically as opposed to all evil —the supposititious outcome of the carnal mind.

Virtue in its highest sense, then, is the constant expression through man of the qualities of divine Mind. Self-importance or self-righteousness has no place in virtue, for virtue from its very nature must express only true selfhood. Mankind in general is striving for freedom from evil or vice, which in its varying forms of allurement claims to attract and to bind to the material senses; and it is only through realization of the power of good that freedom can come. A helpful illustration is that of a magnet, which exerts an attraction over a piece of iron or steel, and which holds it until the object is released by a stronger power. Such a magnet, however, has no power to attract a piece of gold, silver, or copper. Similarly, so long as human consciousness contains an element of evil, it is liable to be attracted by and drawn to evil; but through spiritual purification it can prove its immunity, and reach the point of purity to which the Master had attained when he said, "The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me."

The story of Daniel is of great value to the student of Christian Science, as it undoubtedly presents an exemplification of virtue which rebuked vice and formed a complete protection against the machinations of evil. The virtue which enabled Daniel to defy the claims of evil and to acknowledge allegiance to the one true God served as a shield which the hatred and malice of mortal mind had not the power to pierce. In reply to the question of King Darius, he answered, "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." This mighty assurance, which has been preserved through the centuries and is now illuminated by the fuller light which Christian Science has brought, is a constant inspiration and incentive to overcome evil in all its forms. Had Daniel allowed his innocency or virtue to be adulterated by hatred or resentment, he could not have risen to the spiritual consciousness of the all-power of God. and thus have overcome the malice of mortal mind with which he was confronted.

Mrs. Eddy has written on pages 234 and 235 of Science and Health, "Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes cannot go forth, like wandering pollen, from one human mind to another, finding unsuspected lodgment, if virtue and truth build a strong defence." When one is faced by hatred, resentment, or any form of evil, his protection lies in his abiding in the understanding of God. If one allows evil traits to appear in his own thinking, he will be drawn by the magnet of evil to further belief in its power, with all the attendant miseries of this belief until, through the power of right thinking and the understanding of the omnipotence of Love, he purifies himself and thus gains freedom from the seeming thralldom of evil. The battle ground is in individual consciousness, and there the battle must be fought and won.

"Evil thoughts, lusts, and malicious purposes" claim to be constantly active, and each student of Christian Science must be constantly alert to realize that he can, through the power which understanding brings, build the "strong defence" which will render him immune from every attack of error. To one who is earnestly studying Christian Science, and applying what he learns, the grosser forms of vice make no appeal; but the Bible warns us that it is "the little foxes, that spoil the vines." It is those sins which lie concealed under the cloak of self-righteousness and self-love that cloud the vision and make demonstration protracted or delayed. Let us be honest with ourselves, and willing that these sins should be uncovered and thus destroyed, for only in this way can we lay a sure foundation for the "strong defence."

Much is said and written at the present time on the subject of helping humanity to free itself from the magnetism of vice, but few realize that each individual must cast the beam out of his own eye before he can see clearly how to help his neighbor. It is quite plain that so long as our own vision is clouded by sin, we still lack that clear spiritual insight which characterized all the work of Christ Jesus and enabled him to overcome sin and disease instantaneously.

In the eighth chapter of John's Gospel an interesting and enlightening account is given of the Master's treatment of sin. The Pharisees, who were strict adherents of the Jewish law, brought to him a woman whom they declared to be guilty of sin. The Mosaic law demanded that such as she should be stoned, but hoping that they might have reason to accuse him of disregard of the law they asked his opinion. "But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not." He refused to accept the testimony which the material senses brought before him; he asked no questions relative to the case; he entered into no controversy about the Mosaic law; but he turned their thought from the guilt of the woman to the guilt which had brought her to him, saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." And the record states that they, "being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one."

Does not this exemplify the true method of uncovering and destroying sin? Those who brought the woman to Jesus were forced by the light of his purity to acknowledge their own unworthiness. Here, indeed, is an example in which virtue rebuked vice; it was the virtue which Jesus lived that enabled him to stand as a shining light which evil had no power to dim or extinguish. On page 592 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy has defined "Pharisee" as "corporeal and sensuous belief; self-righteousness; vanity; hypocrisy." These characteristics of the carnal mind are eliminated as successful healing work is accomplished.

In the story under consideration Jesus waited until he was alone with the woman. After ascertaining from her that her accusers had gone, he gave utterance to those words which have helped and comforted humanity throughout the Christian era: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus is the example for all mankind. When the pharisaical tendency tempts us to condemn a brother who has sinned, let us ask ourselves the question, "Am I without sin?" What causes the desire to throw these mental stones that confuse and wound? May it not sometimes be lurking "self-righteousness; vanity; hypocrisy" in our own thinking that is quick to condemn another for his sin? If our conscience is clear and virtue has built "a strong defence," we can say in the words of the Master, "Neither do I condemn thee;" and, the false concept of man disappearing from our own consciousness, we shall find ourselves realizing the healing presence of the Christ.

Jesus never condoned sin; and the genuine Christian Scientist does not condone sin in himself or in others, but he does not accept its claims as real or as any part of man. John Milton, the English poet, wrote in one of his earlier works: