Article February 8, 1958 Issue

THE GREAT RIVER, THE RIVER EUPHRATES

L. IVIMY GWALTER

In the beautiful symbolism of the Bible, the river plays an important part. To the people of the arid Eastern lands, the river represents an avenue of commerce, a route of communication, a source of irrigation with its promise of prosperity and plenty. Through irrigation the innate fertility of the land springs into life, the wilderness buds and blossoms, the desert becomes a garden. The parched ground becomes a pool, and the heat of the sun no longer withers but ripens the fruit and brings it to perfection.

In the second chapter of Genesis there is described a mighty river which watered the garden of Eden. Is not this river symbolic of the course of Truth, which from its eternal source pours forth the blessings of divine Love? As though to emphasize the fact that no phase of human experience is beyond its beneficent reach, the river is divided into four heads. Mary Baker Eddy in the chapter entitled "Glossary" in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," significantly defines these four rivers.

The first we are told in Genesis (2:11, 12) compasses a land where there is gold. The Christian Scientist knows that the longed-for El Dorado of his hope and faith is found only in vigilant obedience to the First Commandment, whereby he surrenders the beliefs of life, intelligence, and satisfaction in matter and demonstrates Life as Spirit, God.

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