Article December 5, 1908 Issue

"KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS"

EDITH BULLARD DUDLEY

It is sometimes said in criticism of Christian Science, that those who follow its teachings have no authority from the Bible to heal the sick. Furthermore, that the command of the Master to heal the sick was addressed to the disciples only, although Paul and Barnabas, also the seventy, healed the sick, in the way of Christ's appointing. If Christians are not to accept all the teachings which were given to the twelve disciples, are we not then to take for our guidance and for our comfort other lessons which were given to the twelve alone?

We have often heard faithful pastors comforting their flock with these encouraging words of Christ Jesus: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. ... Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows;" and yet these loving admonitions were spoken to the twelve as he sent them forth to herald the glad tidings to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel." Evangelists urge sinners to repentance by quoting these words of Jesus: "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." These, however, were spoken to the twelve as the Master called them about him in the house at Capernaum after the transfiguration.

Upon a mountain of Galilee, when alone with the eleven. Jesus commanded them: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Was the "new commandment" given to the eleven, after they had partaken of the passover (Judas having already gone to make his compact with the enemies of the Master), "That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another;" and also the promise, "He shall give you another Comforter," for that little company of faithful followers only? Are we to understand that the "many mansions" spoken of in this same 14th chapter of John, were promised to the eleven only?

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