A BOOKKEEPER by making a survey of his accounts at the end of each month proves that they are well kept and in perfect balance. This survey is called "taking a trial balance." Sometimes errors may have been made in the recording of a transaction, and the trial balance uncovers such mistakes and affords opportunity for the bookkeeper to correct his entries. When these corrections have been made, the books are said to be in balance, and the bookkeeper can speak with authority regarding the debits and credits of the business.
The word trial in its primary meaning denotes "subjection ... to a test, examination, ... or the like, to determine something in question," or in other words to prove the truth. However, one sometimes hears it said that a friend is going through a trial, and in this sense the word denotes affliction or vexation.
Earnest students of Christian Science are endeavoring to prove that the law of God, good, when rightly applied, destroys false concepts and brings into evidence the truth of man and his relation to God. Sometimes, as the light of spiritual understanding dawns upon one's thinking, he may exclaim, "Oh, I see!" It is not the error that he now sees; it is the correct view, or truth, which instantly corrects the error. The endeavor to correct one's human mistakes may seem to be a vexing trial if self pity or fear is allowed to enter thought. But if one approaches this work in humility and patience, persistently knowing the truth of his real selfhood, he can go forward with courage and prove that Truth lived inevitably cancels and destroys false testimony.
One of Love's means for correcting mortal, material thinking and healing the sick is study and application of the Lesson-Sermons in the Christian Science Quarterly. The quiet unfoldment of Christ, Truth, in consciousness by this study aids the student of Christian Science daily to gain a clearer understanding of spiritual existence and perfection.
A little girl who attended the Christian Science Sunday School needed to be corrected at home by her mother. As they talked over the Lesson-Sermon for that week, the child expressed a sincere desire to do good. Some days later she made the same mistake in deportment. The mother checked an impulse to reprove or audibly correct the child. A loving look passed between them, and the child instantly corrected the mistake. The mother, a student of Christian Science, realizing that she must do her part in sustaining the child's desire to do right, turned away and silently declared that this tendency to do wrong was no part of the little girl's true selfhood. That night the child said, "Mother, you heard error invite me to do wrong this afternoon, but we both knew that only Love is real, so we proved that God was caring for me, didn't we?" That was many years ago, and the mistake was never repeated. This opportunity to nullify error and to utilize the blessing which Christian Science brings to all who apply its simple teachings was a joyous experience, not a vexing problem.
The mental court trial allegorically presented by Mary Baker Eddy in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (pp. 430–442), is begun by the prisoner's contemplation of and concession to the untruthful suggestions of mortal sense. Before the final verdict of "Not Guilty" is proclaimed, and every claim of mortal mind is refuted by the truthful affirmations of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy shows a complete change of base in the prisoner's thinking. The defense shows that man is God's child, and not a mortal subject to all sorts of wrong tendencies and mistakes. In summing up the case, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Spirit states (pp. 441, 442): "We have no trials for sickness before the tribunal of divine Spirit. There, Man is adjudged innocent of transgressing physical laws, because' there are no such laws." This illustrates that we cannot overcome evil in ourselves or for others until we stop believing in its reality.
A student of Christian Science acting in the line of duty was confronted with a seemingly unwarranted attack upon his work. At first this appeared to him as an affliction, or vexation, and he became confused and ill. Since there was apparently no error on his part, he felt at a loss to know how to overcome the mounting difficulties. Turning from the inharmony and the temptation to become involved in personal animosity, he prayed to be guided aright and to realize his true selfhood. While reading he came upon these words of our beloved Leader's (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 104): "I will love, if another hates. I will gain a balance on the side of good, my true being. This alone gives me the forces of God wherewith to overcome all error."
He then took the two Concordances to Mrs. Eddy's writings and sought out all the paragraphs wherein she uses the words balances and trials. As this study proceeded, he began to check and correct every wrong thought which he had been unconsciously harboring. With this spiritually directed trial balance there came to him an increased desire to prove his love for and understanding of Christian Science. In a short time errors of the past, fear for the future, and the unhappiness and physical illness which had seemed so trying and real began to fade from his thinking. Now, like Job, he could say (28:3), "He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection." He had silenced error with Truth, and with uplifted thought he could demonstrate a more spiritual and harmonious sense of existence.
Jesus the Christ recognized but one power, that of God, good. When the representatives of mortal mind sought to arrest him, Jesus spoke with authority and calm assurance to the friend who tried to protect him with a material sword. He said (Matt. 26:52, 53): "Put up again thy sword into his place. . . . Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Jesus knew only divine justice and proved that nothing could separate him from God or interfere with his lifework and purpose.
In the measure that one sincerely desires to know Truth and to reflect spiritual perfection he humbly obeys and trusts divine law. Then the gospel of Love enables him to speak with authority when he is confronted with the mistaken beliefs of mortal mind. His life reflects the harmony of divine activity, and he radiates joy.
Mrs. Eddy epitomizes her teaching of how Christian Science restores harmony in these helpful words (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 65): "Christian Science demands both law and gospel, in order to demonstrate healing, and I have taught them both in its demonstration, and with signs following. They are a unit in restoring the equipoise of mind and body, and balancing man's account with his Maker."
Let us heed the word of the prophet Jeremiah (Lam. 3:40, 41): "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens"—where harmony reigns. Let us, as we go about the Father's business, cast out the false and see only the truth of God and man's relation to Him.
