Articles

Perhaps no period in ancient or modern history has contained a larger proportion of spiritually minded thinkers and workers than this in which we live. The present attitude of religious expectancy, following almost a century of remarkable scientific and inventive enterprise, the numerous limitations which have succumbed to common sense and to the application of man's heretofore latent but now effective ability, and the accumulated confidence resulting from past achievement, have all aided in preparing the human mind for the reception of many priceless benefits which a century ago would have been regarded as inventions of the devil.

An ardent young astronomer, not very long ago, made a supposed discovery which gave him great happiness for a time. A powerful new telescope had just been made ready for use, and he was the first to scan the heavens through its lens.

When mortal mind "goes to doubting" the power of good, we need not assume the onus, and thus unwittingly give our sanction to its claim to be within us. To do so is to identify ourselves with the attitude and habit of this mortal mind; whereas, if the message of the Christ be true, we should and do reflect immortal Mind, and therein alone is man's identity discovered and maintained.

WE may know something of the future of practical Christianity because of the "exceeding great and precious promises" of the Word, which have enlisted our faith and trust. To be sure, we are principally concerned with present good; but, scientifically interpreted, Christianity makes its promises for the future emphatic, and we read them and speak of them with gratitude.

IT is obvious that any discussion of man's limitations must distinguish clearly, at the outset, between the real, spiritual man of God's creation, and the unreal, mortal man, the offspring of mortal mind. The former has no limitations, but is perfect; and the primary limitation of the latter consists in his inability to understand and know himself.

We surround ourselves always according to our freedom and ability, with true images of ourselves in things, whether it be ships or books or cannons or churches. The standing army, the arsenal, the camp, and the gibbit do not appertain to man.

JESUS left behind him to bless mankind an ideal, not an organization. While he prophesied that eventually there should be one fold and one Shepherd, he did not refer to enclosing walls within which the sheep were to be herded, for the word translated "fold" finds a better rendering if translated "flock.

Excerpts from Letters to a Business Man by a Christian Scientist. Any system of human thought and action claiming to be religion must be applicable to every phase of human living in order to make good its claim.

No language that can be employed by pen, no words that can be spoken by the tongue, can exaggerate the influence which Christ's philosophy has already exerted upon the race or estimate its future power. Between the doctrine of might and the doctrine of right; between the principle that propagates itself by the sword and the principle that grows through the persuasive influence of its own intrinsic merit; between the grasping, over-reaching spirit that enthrones self and sacrifices all else to its own advantage and the generous, manly recognition of the rights of others; between a measure of greatness that estimates a man by what he has absorbed from society and that which estimates men worthy in proportion as they do service and diffuse blessings—these differences surpass comprehension.

THERE is a prayer of supplication, and the nature of that prayer is to ask, to plead, to beg God to be good. There is a prayer of affirmation, it is the prayer of faith; its nature is to declare that God is good, and thereby reflect a consciousness of God's presence and power.