One of the most precious gifts bestowed upon us is our God-given individual right of self-government and freedom. In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy says (p. 106), "God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience." Then she adds, "Man is properly self-governed only when he is guided rightly and governed by his Maker, divine Truth and Love." Man, as the idea of God, has ever been and forever will remain free because he is governed by his perfect Principle, ever-present Love.
The desire of every earnest student of Christian Science is to reduce to practice in human experience this God-bestowed freedom. In order to do this, one must know and then be willingly obedient to the law of God, divine Love. One may be tempted at times to lean too heavily on another's direction and forfeit his right of individual self-government under divine Principle. Sometimes an earnest student unwisely tries to direct his brother when he believes his brother lacks sufficient understanding to govern his own affairs wisely. It is then that we need to recall that divine Mind is not partial in bestowing its gifts.
There is helpful encouragement in the study of Bible narratives for every parent and Sunday school teacher. When children have been properly taught the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the Beatitudes, and how to apply these truths, they are equipped to maintain their spiritual freedom individually. There are many times when personal supervision, however wise, is not available, but divine Love is ever present and spiritual ideas are ever at hand. Sinful temptations, sick or discouraged thoughts, are rejected by one who understands, loves, and obeys the law of God, for he knows that there is but one divine Mind, but one power, and so turns for guidance to Mind instead of to person. Even young children understand how to do this when they have been properly taught the simple truths of Christian Science and how to deny error any activity in their thoughts.
