A vital demand of the times is this: that the Christian Scientist be more watchful, that he accomplish more—do more effective healing work on a larger scale and accomplish it more consistently. How may such a requirement be met? Discipline is an answer, the spiritual self-discipline that is inherent in the practice of this Science.
It is most important that we clearly recognize that discipline demands the watching of one's thoughts. This is in accordance with Christ Jesus' trenchant command, "What I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." Mark 13:37;
It is plain that watchfulness, or alertness, and discipline go hand in hand; each is necessary for the continuance of the other. The need for watchfulness becomes more apparent when it is seen that the basic claim of the human mind is the seeming commingling of good and evil. Thus, so long as one has not risen above all human beliefs, there will remain the need for being constantly on guard against the marauding suggestions of the so-called mortal mind, which by its very nature is unruly and resistant to discipline and consistency.
