The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-05-08
Law Versus Chance

a TENDENCY of the unenlight-
II ened human mind to believe
4 Athat it can ultimately better
conditions, financial or otherwise, by
resorting to what is known as the
element of chance, is one of the de-
lusions which seem to beset mortal
existence. If uncorrected, 1t may
lead the individual into most unde-
sirable, If not, indeed, unlawful by
ways of speculative endeavor 1t
NAV also tend to keep him in con-
tinual condition of unrest and disap-
pointment because of unfulflled
hopes and expectations. Further
more, he may fail to see that having
admitted what is called chance into
his thinking, having accepted 1t as
something, and consented to its So
called operation, he may see this at
titude of thought externalized in his
human experience in ways which are
not desirable. The Apostle Paul said
(Romans 6:16), know We not, that
to whom we yield yourselves servants
to obey, his servants We are to whom
we obey?"
To yield oneself servant to
chance is to place oneself in pre-
carious position. Moreover, it means
pinning ones faith to false gods
to things which in reality do not
exist, such as so-called good fortune,
good luck, and so on. Anything which
can change in moment from what
appears to be good to something
which manifests itself as i'll, was
never good and never will be, for
good is stable, Interchangeable, indie
structible, never subject to chance,
or swayed by untoward circumstance.
What a contrast to such a possible
experience is that of one whose
thought and life are governed by d.
vine law! 1t means safety instead OF
danger, security in place of uncer-
tainty and risk, stability and stead
fastness of thought and purpose in
stead of vacillating gullibility. Con-
formity to divine law in ones think
ing and conduct precludes any such
thing as chance. Correct thinking
resulting in right action brings it's
own legitimate return and reward.
The more ones thoughts and life are
governed by the law of God, good.
the more assured is one not alone of
prosperity anu SuCCCOo, Jul oAoO
of safeguard from all i'll. :.
How reassuring it is to remember
that as mental allegiance is trans
ferred from any dependence upon
chance to reliance upon the operation
of divine law, not alone are we our
selves safeguarded from harm, but
We are helping to safeguard the en-
tire world. On page 424 of the Chris
tian Science textbook, Science and
Health with Key to the Scriptures"
Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and
Founder of Christian Science, writes,
Accidents are unknown to God, or
immortal Mind and we must leave
the mortal basis of belief and unite
with the one Mind, in order to change
the notion of chance to the proper
sense of Gods unerring direction and
thus bring out harmony" Who is
there, who, having changed "the no
ton of chance" to Goods unerring
direction" does not feel happier,
more at peace, more safe and secure?
He has exchanged precarious and
unstable mental footing, which Christ
Jesus spoke of as house built upon
the sand" for one which the Master
described as house built upon a
rock" against which the winds and
rain and floods of adverse circum-
stance could not prevail.
One thus conforming with divine
law is graphically described in the
first Psalm in the following beautiful
metaphor (Psalms 1881: "And he
shall be like tree planted by the
rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper. THE Christian
Science Monitor.