Arizona republican., 1920-02-08

munication if we are wholly preoccu- pied with self and the body There fore bringing the body into subJection really means not starving and bullying it. but dropping it out of thought mentally rising superior to the illusive sug gestions of pleasure or pain in mat ter-forgetting self. and listening for Gods message to man of Life, Truth, and Love.
 Best Work of All
 Perhaps it is because we have be- come so absorbed in material occupa- tions of one kind or another that We have come to think of Science, let alone Christian Science, as outside of our scope. There is something very satis- lying about having lot of work to do, and the absence of work seeniS 70 create such a void in a mans life, that Stevenson once said Of work that II was Gods greatest gift 10 man.
 But listen to this,
 Labor not for the meat which per isheth but for that meat which en- dureth unto everlasting life, when the Son of Man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
 Then said they unto him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God?
 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye be- lieve on l>srn whom he hath sent.
 Perhaps you have never thought of your work just in that light. The desk. the shop, the factory, the plough, the pulpit whatever your particular task may be, have kept you fully occupied. But they, so far from being your real work, may sometimes be no more than your excuse for not doing this work that Jesus outlined. What it is to be lieve on him whom he hath sent? It must mean more than mere acquies- pf <ax h<11i is a North Pole" It must surely mean to grasp the spiritual idea of manhood which Jesus presented and to stop thinking of man as a fallen being-a sick and shining mortal. Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nos arils," says the Bible.
 If some fruit that is good to eat and some that is poisonous is set before you, you eat the good and reject the bad. Your belief expresses itself in action and so it should always do.
 The truth about God and man is set before us in Christian Science and we can understand it and demonstrate it. Christian Science reveals to us that we have omnipotence close at hand and all around us giving authority to our every thought and action that is in line with truth. In the textbook of Christian Science we have the scientific rule, which Jesus promised should be given, enabling us to correct our thinking and to put the truth in the place of the lie, as he did centuries ago.
 Proofs Not Perfunctory
 How is one to know that one is eSca ping from materialism and really grasping the spiritual idea of man hood which Jesus demonstrated? Here is the answer from the Bible:-"These signs (proofs) shall follow them that believe; in my name shalt they cast out devils; they shall speak with new c1ol fa1- and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall re- cCver-'
 These then are to be the proofs that we have a right understanding of Life. Not you will observe, the occupancy of positions of prominence, not the wearing of fine raiment, not wealth and popularity, but the casting out of devils (where are these devils, or evils, if not in our own thoughtsD, speaking with new tongues (not being afraid to voice the truth), handling of serpents (showing up deceit). immunity from poison, and the healing of the sick.
 Most people will say that they were never taught that these things were any part of their duty as a Christian, regular attendance at church being re- garded as an adequate sign following Christian belief. Consulting a recent
 
 these words: The gift of miracles was given to assist the diffusion of the gospel at the very first. When Chris tianity was firmly planted, the gift of miracles was withdrawn" Could any statement be more misleading than this? It surely has not a particle of foundation. To begin with, Jesus never used the word miracles" He said these signs" or .proofs" shall follow them that believe. And again, he never hinted that there would be a time limit to these proofs It is no more correct to say that these proofs have been withdrawn than it is to say that there is a time limit to the fact that equals or to such inven- tions as the telephone or the electric light. The only difficulty there is about the healing work is the diff culty we have in understanding God. How else can we know that we under stand God except we have proofs of His omnipotence and omnipresence? It is not intellectual proficiency that IS needed for the making of these proofs, but the unselfing of thought through purity, humility, and affection-the ad- vancing stages of self-government.
 Based on Rules
 The healing work in Christian Sci ence is not just an exhibition of blind faith in the supernatural, or in some divine interpretation. It is based on certain rules derived from the Master himself. His treatment, sometimes un- spoken. but more often, according to the narrative, spoken. almost invaria- bly, resulted in complete and instan- taneous healing. This is the kind of healing that need to be restored today not the groping and experimental methods of materia medica, not the blind reliance on a good person, a good place or a good thing, which some times produces the same kind of faith healing that drugs produce-but the Christ method, which turns the suf- ferer's thought to Him who hea1eth all thy diseases who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies," in other words, to his divine Principle, God. What a waste of time it is trying to locate diabolical in telligence, in tiny germ. equipped with a body so small that you cannot see it, when the truth is that neither germ nor any other suppositional manifestation of evil. or disease, can influence in the smallest degree a mind that has gained the secret of self gov ernment. This secret brings detach-
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