Page:Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (1898).djvu/362

342 Religious history repeats itself in the suffering of the just for the unjust. Can God therefore overlook the law

of righteousness which destroys sin? Does not Science show that sin brings suffering as much to-day as ever before? They who sin must suffer. “Whatsoever measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

History is full of records of suffering. “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Mortals

try in vain to slay Truth with the steel or with fire; but error falls only before the sword of Spirit. Martyrs are the human links which connect one stage with another in the history of religion. They are earth's luminaries, which serve to cleanse and rarefy the atmosphere of material sense, and permeate humanity with purer ideals. Consciousness of right-doing brings its own reward; but not amid the smoke of battle is merit seen and appreciated by lookers-on.

When will his professed followers learn to emulate Jesus in all his ways, and imitate his mighty works?

Those who procured the martyrdom of that righteous man turned his sacred career into a mutilated doctrinal platform. May the Christians of this century take up the more practical import of that career! It is possible — yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman — to follow, in some degree, by the demonstration of Truth and Life, the example of the Master. Christians claim to be his followers, but do they follow him in the way that he commanded? Hear these imperative commands: “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect!” “Go ye into all the world