The peace and tranquillity of mind which men so much desire will be more fully realized as a higher sense of justice is reached in their dealings one with another.
The feeling that one has been made the victim of intentional injustice in some business transaction or personal relationship usually disturbs one's serenity of thought, if, indeed, it does not become a lingering torment, continually suggesting that one has been wronged and sometimes the desire for retaliation. Liberation from these vexing suggestions begins, however, when, through the loving persuasion of some friend, one turns away from the bitterness which so long has haunted him to the quiet contemplation of this simple statement of truth: God is just. The very thought begins at once to bring comfort to the troubled heart!
In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy recognizes the claim of injustice when she writes (p. 64), "Want of uniform justice is a crying evil caused by the selfishness and inhumanity of man." Yet one who is disheartened by a sense of injustice will surely be comforted by our Leader's reminder to remember that God is just. (See Pulpit and Press, p. 7; Miscellaneous Writings, p. 2.) And it is reassuring to understand that as one abandons the human view or sense of any situation, and steadfastly invokes the spirit of Truth, he may confidently expect a righteous solution of any problem into which injustice or any other error may have entered.
There are many infractions of human law and customs which do not rouse the average individual to more than casual notice or comment, but let him observe or experience the result of some subtle or wanton act of injustice, and he is quite ready to administer a firm rebuke to the offender.
"Justice is the moral signification of law," Mrs. Eddy states on page 391 of Science and Health; and she immediately adds, "Injustice declares the absence of law." More often it is the infraction of the moral law, based on the Commandments, and involving the human rights and obligations of the individual, which stirs men to action. Under a strong impulse to right what seems a grievous wrong, mortals are sometimes driven to take the law into their own hands, so to speak, but such action "declares the absence of law"—is lawlessness—which the Apostle Paul pointedly questions: "Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?" Mankind must—and will— come to a fuller realization that the benefits which the law, human or divine, intends to bestow can be obtained and enjoyed only through faithful observance of it.
Human law, known largely through statutory enactments, has many imperfections traceable to the limitations of its source, the human mind; consequently it is undergoing constant change. This gives rise to a sense of instability as well as uncertainty in many instances as to what the law is, and what its effect is in human experience. But when one learns that actually, as the child of God, he is ever under the guidance and care of his heavenly Father, whose beneficent, fixed, and unchangeable law supersedes all other law, he knows that he need have no fear for his welfare and security because of the inadequacies of human enactments.
It should be helpful to one who is laboring under a sense of injustice to realize that God's law, by virtue of its source in the divine Mind, is a moral and spiritual force, universal and impartial in its application, and entirely just in its provisions and demands. He may also be glad to be reminded that the Father's loving precepts always lift one who observes them into a higher and more spiritual state of thought and action; into a happier and more peaceful sense of being. He may know too that Truth will always bring to light that which is just and reveal the injustice and powerlessness of that which is not in accordance with divine Principle. One's duty is to bring his motives, thoughts, and acts into conformity with Truth, and then trust Truth to maintain that which it has brought forth.
The widespread upheaval of the social order in the world today gives added point to Mrs. Eddy's clear statement, "Injustice declares the absence of law." The course pursued by the aggressor nations is. obviously, one of total disregard of law and its mandates, both human and divine, and it is this defiance of law by these offenders which has stirred the peace-loving nations to determined action. It is true that human law cannot be as universal in its requirements and benefits as are the precepts of divine wisdom, but it can in some degree approximate the divine.
Then let us be understanding confident that those selected as the forthcoming peacemakers will see to it that the provisions made for the future peace and welfare of the world are grounded in divine justice as nearly as it is humanly possible to be. They may well take as their gauge the counsel of the Psalmist, "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
The average individual, the world over, has some idea of fairness. In the main he has no distorted sense of what is right, and desires only what seems to him to be substantially just. Yet the very limited circumstances of innumerable people in the world today indicates a great lack of uniform justice. While earnestly hoping for a fuller and happier experience through an improved economic and social status, not alone the underprivileged but all must learn to make an earnest effort to conform individual thought and action to the teachings of Christ Jesus, the Exemplar for every man. Otherwise humanity will continue to search, and perhaps in vain, for the peace and human betterments which it so greatly desires, and for which it has yearned throughout the centuries. How relevant are these words of Mrs. Eddy (The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 181): "It is 'a consummation devoutly to be wished' that all nations shall speedily learn and practise the intermediate line of justice between the classes and masses of mankind, and thus exemplify in all things the universal equity of Christianity."
Twenty centuries ago Christ Jesus pointed out the path which everyone must take to arrive at that state of spiritual culture and thinking necessary to the establishment and maintenance of a universally just and lasting peace. Among other things he said: "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Those spiritual precepts which he taught must be accepted and demonstrated in individual experience if selfishness, injustice, and greed are to disappear from the world of tomorrow. But as long as mankind continues to disregard the way of life taught and lived by the Master, just so long must it bear the consequences.
Christian Science is enabling the individual who accepts and lives its teachings, to establish for himself a degree of peace and happiness such as he may never have believed to be possible, and this Science adheres to and presents only what the Master taught and proved. His counsel is, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God. and his righteousness," and he concludes with the gracious promise that "all these things shall be added unto you."
May not "these things" include a deeper sense of gratitude for the clearer understanding one has gained, through Christian Science, of the significance of this great truth that God is just? Can there be lasting peace and harmony, individually or collectively, if divine justice does not continually abide?
It is noteworthy that through the impelling power of the truth which Jesus proclaimed, the world has witnessed the growth of a civilization which is certain to survive the present conflict, and seems ready and capable of achieving, perhaps within a period not afar off, a state of human society wherein the rights of the individual will be given such just recognition and universal acceptance as to banish forever the injustice imposed by the ignorance, arrogance, and intolerance of the past. How greatly would this honor "The Prince of Peace"! "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law."
