So important did Mary Baker Eddy regard alertness on the part of Christian Scientists that she left specific instructions for us in the Manual of The Mother Church under the heading "Alertness to Duty." She says (Art. VIII, Sect. 6): "It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged,—and justified or condemned."
All of us therefore may well ask ourselves how we can be more alert in carrying out these instructions and how we can best defend ourselves against aggressive mental suggestion. First of all, we are called upon to acknowledge the all-power, ever-presence, and goodness of God, the divine Principle of the universe. Only in this way can we obey the First Commandment (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," and fulfill our duty to God.
The thoughts of the world, which are called to our attention by radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and often by well-meaning friends, try to make us believe that fear, inharmony, hatred, greed, disease, and death are powerful. If we are not awake and vigilant, do we not find ourselves yielding to them in a measure, admitting perhaps that in some situations disease has power to destroy life or cause suffering, that death is a release, that some individuals are hateful, evil, or selfish, or that some circumstances can conquer us? Then fear, unrest, or indignation may gain a foothold, and unless we quickly realize what is happening and correct our thinking by replacing these false suggestions with the spiritual facts of being, we find ourselves bearing witness to lying beliefs instead of to the truth of being, and thus neglecting our duty to God.
