So he sets to work, slowly at first, perhaps, but "sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust" in the infallible Principle which is the basis of all his efforts. His understanding grows clearer and he affirms, "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father," realizing the omniscient Mind within. He sees that God is not in the word of condemnation and that no good can come from its use, because "God sent not his Son (Word) into the world to condemn the world." God is Love, the magnet that uplifts and saves the world, and the word of Love is the expression of God. "And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples the upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou knowest; *** What in me is dark Illumine; what is low, raise and support," that, under thy loving care and guidance, I may lay aside every weight and be indeed free; that I may be the perfect expression of thy infinite Love and Wisdom; that I may realize in myself,-what, in truth, I am, the Word of God. Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed.-1 Tim. 6:17. The way is narrow? Ay, but think how wide Into a larger life the path will guide. What matter, then, if narrow be the way? "HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP" As I came near the cemetery I saw a great broad gateway leading from the main road and was impressed with the grandeur of the three wonderful gates. Glancing about, I somehow looked up above the solid masonry, exquisitely carved, and saw in great open-work wrought iron letters, "He giveth his beloved sleep." Now what does this suggest to your mind? I had just begun to think along the lines of the love of God. I had just begun to realize that God never sends sickness and sin to his people and I saw this text "He giveth his beloved sleep," and immediately associated this thought with death. I thought of a homicidal God-a strange God to give his beloved death. No human parent would do that in order that an own child might be relieved of the sin of worry, and yet we accuse God of what we would deny on behalf of our human parents. How shall we avoid worry? There is only one way, that is to realize our identity with God; to realize our inseparableness from the Infinite; to realize that God does give his beloved sleep, that it is Love that gives us sleep. The man who has nothing but love in his thoughts when he goes to bed at night is quite apt to sleep. The man who has no fear in his consciousness is quite apt to go to sleep. In this way does he give his beloved sleep. But fear and anxiety, sorrow, anger, hate, malice and revenge, these things will keep any man awake—any man who is more than a brute. There are men who can go to sleep with one consuming idea in their minds-that of getting even with someone; but such cases are rare. Men have become drunkards in order to overcome worry, and men take hypodermic injections of morphia in order to get away from the haunting fears of the future, yet never really get away from these things. These are false methods. There is only one real antidote for worry, and that is to become acquainted with God, who is Infinite Love itself. If there is any doubt in our mind then the fears and the worries come to harrass and distress us, shutting out God, and in consequence we lose our sleep. To go to bed at night with any thought of anger will keep the sensitive man or woman awake for hours. To go to bed at night with the thought of suspicion in our minds is to let the mental microbes eat their way into our minds and destroy peace. God giveth his beloved sleep, but not by pain-nor by making them fit candidates for the cemetery. This is not the method by which God giveth his beloved sleep. God giveth his beloved sleep by stilling their hearts, and this is the only way by which a man will know that he is beloved because he expresses God. He is the beloved by nature of the law of expression. "He giveth them sleep by a perfectly natural and normal method-by replacing their fears and worries, their burdens and sorrows with his love. No man has ever laid awake at night whose thought has been filled with love for humanity. You don't condemn your neighbors if you are wise. Therefore don't lie awake for twenty nights. If you stay awake for a year it will not make your sin any less. So close your eyes and go to sleep and know that tomorrow you will know less of anger and hate. Love giveth his beloved sleep. If we are his beloved every man and every thing will appear to us as his beloved. Then let us realize what love it is that takes us beside the still waters. Divine Love, you say, but if you have not that love of humanity in your own heart, if you have not that love of Truth in your consciousness, Divine Love won't take you anywhere. It is through your cooperation with the very love that is within you and in all created things that you are led beside the still waters.The Gleaner. GLEANED TRUTH A correspondent writes: "I know what the preachers say about it, but, singularly enough, I want an editor's opinion, 'Is prayer answered?' It all depends. What is prayer? And who offers the prayer? And what does he pray for? There is an old hymn which says: 'Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Uttered or unexpressed." Given the petitioner who asks for a proper answer to his prayer, and who really desires what he asks forthat man's prayer is answered. It is in the very nature of things. It is based on scientific fact. Darwin has told us and Spencer has illustrated the fact that thought-desire is the method of creation. All things come through desire. The deer runs because it wants to run, and has thus evolved the parts necessary for its running. The fish has fins because it wants to swim. The bird flies because it desires to fly. All animate nature is what it is because it desires to be so. It couldn't be different. To give a concrete example of answered prayer: An individual prays to be a useful, helpful citizen. If he is sincere in his prayer he desires what he prays for. And through that desire, in time, he becomes what he prays for. In this sense a man answers his own prayer. It is the Law of Being that you are transformed into the likeness of that which you desire. George Eliot wrote "Silas Marner" to illustrate that law. No power on earth or in hell can prevent a man from being a good man if he desires to be. His wish, his prayer, will mold him. He may know nothing about the law of assimilation or reflex action. But his prayer will be answered just the same. You say this eliminates God? No, it simply proves that God uses man to answer man's prayers. A prayer without soul in it, a prayer without sincere desire in it, a prayer without longing in it, is blasphemy. -New York Journal. The evidence is complete that demonstrates that every mental activity creates a definite chemical change and a definite anatomical structure in the animal that exercises that mental activity, and this is the modus operandi of animal growth and evolution, and that by this method more mind can be embodied ad libitum. The evidence is complete that shows that every mentation also produces a definite effect upon the environment of the animal that does the mentating. Action and reaction are equal. Force cannot come from nothing. Mentation is a mode of energy, and the organism of the animal cannot create the energy of life out of nothing, but must receive it from the Great Reservoir. But the conclusion that every mentation affects the environment is based upon direct testimony and quantitative measurement. Vary the mental activities of a unicellular organism and you will vary its structures, and the same is true of a multicellular dog or man. Mind underlies organic phenomena and life is mind; mind-activity is the cause of evolution, and mind-embodiment is the goal.-Prof. Elmer Gates. "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." "As the fountain of perpetual youth and beauty bursts forth from beneath a ledge of rock in the uplands of truth," said the preacher, "it seems to say, 'I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.' |