ou from
"spiritual wickedness in high places."

PLEASANT VIEW, CONCORD, N. H., [5]
June 3, 1895

Address Before The Christian Scientist Association Of The Massachusetts
Metaphysical College, In 1893

SUBJECT: _Obedience_ [10]

_My Beloved Students_:--This question, ever nearest
to my heart, is to-day uppermost: Are we filling the
measures of life's music aright, emphasizing its grand
strains, swelling the harmony of being with tones whence
come glad echoes? As _crescendo_ and _diminuendo_ accent [15]
music, so the varied strains of human chords express
life's loss or gain,--loss of the pleasures and pains and
pride of life: gain of its sweet concord, the courage of
honest convictions, and final obedience to spiritual law.
The ultimate of scientific research and attainment in [20]
divine Science is not an argument: it is not merely say-
ing, but doing, the Word--demonstrating Truth--even
as the fruits of watchfulness, prayer, struggles, tears, and
triumph.

Obeying the divine Principle which you profess to un- [25]
derstand and love, demonstrates Truth. Never absent
from your post, never off guard, never ill-humored, never
unready to work for God,--is obedience; being "faith-
ful over a few things." If in one instance obedience be
lacking, you lose the scientific rule and its reward: namely, [30]

[Page 117.]

to be made "ruler over many things." A progressive [1]
life is the reality of Life that unfolds its immortal Prin-
ciple.

The student of Christian Science must first separate the
tares from the wheat; discern between the thought, [5]
motive, and act superinduced by the wrong motive or
the true--the God-given intent and volition--arrest
the former, and obey the latter. This will place him on
the safe side of practice. We always know where to look
for the real Scientist, and always find him there. I agree [10]
with Rev. Dr. Talmage, that "there are wit, humor, and
enduring vivacity among God's people."

Obedience is the offspring of Love; and Love is the
Principle of unity, the basis of all right thinking and
acting; it fulfils the law. We see eye to eye and know as we [15]
are known, reciprocate kindness and work wisely, in
proportion as we love.

It is difficult for me to carry out a divine commission
while participating in the movements, or _modus operandi_,
of other folks. To point out every step to a student and [20]
then watch that each step be taken, consumes time,--
and experime