Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-17
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
RELIEVES FOLLOWERS
OF FEAR OF FUTURE
TEACHES BELIEVERS TO LIVE
INTHE PRESENT
Mrs. Eddy's Doctrines Are That ooe-
dIence to Law of God Can
Result Only In
Good

and prevents the full enjoyment Oh the
blessings at hand. 1t has been sald
that no man sinks beneath the bur
den of today. 1t is only when tomor-
rows burden is added to that of to-
day that the burden becomes heavier
than can be borne. Experience proves
that a great majority of the burdens
which have been carried in the past
were needless and causeless. Perhaps
most of them had to do with the tu-
ture There was no immediate cause
for worry, but the admitted probaoll-
ity or possibility of being overtaken by
some evil was enough to awaken lear
and occasion anxiety for the future:
Even though the evil that was feared
did not come upon them, mortals did
not see the folly and uselessness Of
worrying about the future, but they
have continued in the error OF their
way and carried heavy burdens that
should have been left by the Wayslde.
This is all due to the belief in evil
and the lack of faith in God The
Master saw clearly that humanity was
needlessly troubled about many things
and he tried to teach them to live in
the present and leave the future in the
hands of God. In the Sermon on the
Mount he told them to do what to the
human sense is an impossibility. He
said: Take therefore no Thought for
the morrow" He told them to seek
We first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness" and assured them that
all the needful things for which they
were inclined to be anxious would be
added unto them.
Points to Reality of Good
When the Masters teachings are ac-
cepted because they are understood,
and human activities are made to
accord Herewith, the heavy burdens
of worry and anxiety about the future
will be laid down. All that Jesus
taught and did pointed to the reality
of good and the nothingness of evil.
The mortal belief in evil which OBJ
scures from the sense of good, Is the
cause of fear and fear is the cause
of anxiety. When one honestly seeks
first the kingdom of God, the con-
sciousness of good as infinite and
ever present, he is doing that which
makes it possible for him to take no
thought for the morrow" He begins
to see that God and His laws are un-
changeable, 1.-The same yesterday, and
today, and forever" and he learns to
live in the present. The past of NOR
tai experience he leaves behind him
and the future of human existence he
trust to Him who doeth all things
we'll.
1t Is sometimes argued that it Is not
possible to obey the command to take
no thought for the morrow" for mucf
that is done in all lines of human en-
deavor is with view to the future anc
If such thought for the future were not
taken mortals would be called upon II
pay the penalty of their negligence. BY
way of Illustrating, it is said that if th'
farmer did not plow and plant there
ha ha Gather and III
the sowing Of the grain he is takins
thought for the future. In sense this
is true, but If in the spring time he did
not prepare the ground and SOW the
seed he would not be taking proper
thought for the present. One must be
faithful in the performance of today's
duties and he can do this without being
anxious about the future.
The Revised Version
In the revised version of the New
Testament this saying of the Master is
for the morrow" and it may be that
this rendering of the text makes II
more readily comprehended and reveals
its practical import. One Is left free
to take the necessary thought for the
future and Is at the same time warned
against undue anxiety. However, 1t is
many times exceedingly difficult not to
be ANXIOUS, 6SplCidllJ IL OllC - lAlSIliAC'4
to believe as firmly in the reality OF
evil as he does in the reality of good
The belief that evil is power al
ways admits the possibility of failure
in a good undertaking and the possible
triumph of evil creates sense of doubt
and uncertainty. 1t is evident, then
that the remedy is living, practical
faith in the reality and power of good.
Christian Science is supplying human
ity's need.
The teaching that God is infinite
Good, the only real power and presence,
is destroying the mortal belief that
good is finite and that there is a power
and presence named evil. In proportion
as the belief in evil is destroyed in
human consciousness, in that degree is
humanity saved from the fear of evil,
either in the present or in the future
AS the fear of evil Is overcome the oc-
casion for worry and anxiety is re-
moved and there is greater freedom IN
the enjoyment of present good.
Christian Science teaches that obedi-
ence to the law of God can result only
in present and future good Every man
will reap as he sows; good cannot re-
suit in evil any more than evil can re-
suit in good The only thought that &
man need take for the future is thai
| present opportunities for the attain
ment of good be improved. If this Is
| done there need be no concern for the
| future.
Fear Is Overcome
Christian Science makes one optimis
| tic. However, he does not hope
against hope, nor without reason. HI
sees more clearly than ever before
| lust what and how much is required o
him, and he also sees that it is pos
sible to meet the divine requirement.
and thus reap the reward of the faith
full. AS he is relieved of the burdel
of anxiety for the future he is abl'
| to devote himself more completely t
the duties of the present. Consequent
ly he attains a higher degree of eX
! cellence in the performance of hi
! tasks and the greater reward is earned
and received. He sees that he mus
not only desire good; he must strive 70
it's attainment and he is confident o
success. He is inspired with hope ant
sustained by the assurance that goo'
will triumph in the future as it doe
in the present.
The Psalmist wrote Trust in tn
Lord, and do good: so shalt tho
dwell in the land, and verify thou shal
be fed. Delight thyself also in tn
Lord and he shall give thee the de
sires of thine heart. Commit thy wa
unto the Lord; trust also in him, ant
he shall bring it to pass" Even lit
tie understanding of the allness Q
good, as revealed in Christian Science
Increases ones faith In God. Fear
overcome and the burden of anxiou
thought for the morrow is laid dow
as one learns to trust God and live il
GAFA