The quote, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance,” was shared Sunday. I am using this thought in connection with the instruction to watch our thinking so as, “not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind.” Church Manual, Article VIII, Sect.
We were told by drifting into of thoughts of worry, doubt, focus on self and our bodies, etc. we are no longer doing our “Duty.” Instead to turn thinking to the many Truth’s we have in the Bible and Science and Health. This is requiring vigilance. The Virginia Free Press and Farmers’ Repository says: “Some one has justly remarked, that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.’ Let the sentinels on the watch-tower sleep not, and slumber not.” (May 2, 1833 edition)
In our Lesson this week Mrs. Eddy writes, “The real man being linked by Science to his Maker, mortals need only turn from sin and lose sight of mortal selfhood to find Christ, the real man and his relation to God, and to recognize the divine sonship.” Science and Health p. 315
This struck me because it says “lose sight of mortal selfhood.” Later I read, “To carry out his (Jesus’) holy purpose, he must be oblivious of human self. “From A Christmas Sermon” Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, p. 162
I am so grateful this instruction was brought out in class and it makes me appreciate more the title, “Alertness to Duty.”