Articles

The Christian Scientist, daily learning to separate the chaff from the wheat, and ceaselessly awakening to a further understanding of growth, unfoldment, and fruition, is at times almost surprised at the valuable lessons that come through the most simple and childlike experiences. One such lesson came to the writer on an early spring morning when it became obvious that a sparrow in looking for "an house.

Human problems are rightly viewed when considered from a Christianly scientific standpoint. Such problems may be clearly discerned only from this point of view.

It is not an uncommon experience to feel the need of comfort and consolation through an outpouring of the heart's burden and sorrow. At such times to many in all ages God has been the unfailing refuge: the thought that He knew all about the trouble has been reassuring and comforting.

All Christian Scientists know the importance of being alert to the suggestions of material sense, so called; and all sincere students are aware of Mrs. Eddy's injunctions regarding the protecting of one's self from unseen evil, and the need of praying daily for one's self.

Progress is universal and compelling in its appeal. An individual, a community, a nation, may seem to shut out its rays of promise, its hope and good will, but the unfaltering law of progress tends to penetrate the walls of self-will and work its way into the very heart of humanity.

Many students of Christian Science can recall the feeling of enthusiasm which took possession of them when they first began to realize something of the significance of this Science, with all the broad vista of hope, joy, and freedom that it opens up to wondering and often incredulous mortals. But enthusiasm tends sooner or later to evaporate, particularly when a little experience shows that unless supported by earnest effort it avails nothing.

Christ Jesus said to his followers, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. " Many in the Christian church have taken these words literally and superficially; and most of the written as well as the extempore prayers therein have ended with the words "for Jesus Christ's sake.

When Jesus knew that the time was at hand for him to take the progressive step which would, according to the evidence of the material senses, separate him from his disciples, he began to prepare them for the change. By the study of John's Gospel, especially of the fourteenth to the seventeenth chapter inclusive, we come to realize something of Jesus' purpose to impress them with the truth that the real individual spiritual man cannot die or be separated from his Father, God.

Comparing the methods of preaching the gospel and healing the sick generally in vogue during the last seventeen centuries with those put into practice by the Galilean Prophet in the early days of the Christian era, in many respects we find little similarity, and in most respects a very wide divergence. For upwards of three hundred years after Jesus' advent spiritual healing was accomplished by his followers; and until the church became allied with the state, coming directly under the control of political interests, healing the sick, as well as preaching the gospel, was recognized as a religious obligation.

In the closing chapters of the Gospel of John there is recorded most helpful instruction to students of Christian Science, those harvesters desirous of bringing in good fruit. The great Exemplar had just finished with his disciples what has come to be known as the Lord's Supper.