Warmed by the sunshine of Truth, watered by the [10] heavenly dews of Love, the fruits of Christian Science spring upward, and away from the sordid soil of self and matter. Are we clearing the gardens of thought by up- rooting the noxious weeds of passion, malice, envy, and strife? Are we picking away the cold, hard pebbles of [15] selfishness, uncovering the secrets of sin and burnishing anew the hidden gems of Love, that their pure perfection shall appear? Are we feeling the vernal freshness and sunshine of enlightened faith? The weeds of mortal mind are not always destroyed [20] by the first uprooting; they reappear, like devastating witch-grass, to choke the coming clover. O stupid gar- dener! watch their reappearing, and tear them away from their native soil, until no seedling be left to propagate— and rot. Among the manifold soft chimes that will fill the haunted [25] chambers of memory, this is the sweetest: “Thou hast been faithful!” [Page 344.] True Philosophy And Communion It is related of Justin Martyr that, hearing of a Pythag- [2] orean professor of ethics, he expressed the wish to be- come one of his disciples. “Very well,” the teacher replied; “but have you studied music, astronomy, and [5] geometry, and do you think it possible for you to under- stand aught of that which leads to bliss, without hav- ing mastered the sciences that disengage the soul from objects of sense, so rendering it a fit habitation for the intelligences?” On Justin’s confessing that he had [10] not studied those branches, he was dismissed by the professor. Alas for such a material science of life! Of what avail would geometry be to a poor sinner struggling with temptation, or to a man with the smallpox? [15] Ancient and modern philosophies are spoiled by lack of Science. They would place Soul wholly inside of body, intelligence in matter; and from error of premise would seek a correct conclusion. Such philosophy can never demonstrate the Science of Life,—the Science which [20] Paul understood when he spoke of willingness “to be absent from the body, and present with the Lord.” Such philosophy is far from the rules of the mighty Nazarene Prophet. His words, living in our hearts, were these: “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as [25] a little child, shall in no wise enter therein.” Not through astronomy did he point out the way to heaven and the reign of harmony. We need the spirit of St. Paul, when he stood on Mars’ hill at Athens, bringing Christianity for the first time [30] [Page 345.] into Europe. The Spirit bestows spiritual gifts, God’s [1] presence and providence. St. Paul stood where Socrates had stood four hundred years before, defending himself against the charge of atheism; in the place where De- mosthenes had pleaded for freedom in immortal strains [5] of eloquence.