Article November 8, 1913 Issue

Truth's High Behest

LEWIS PRESCOTT

In Science and Health we read that "the epoch approaches when the understanding of the truth of being will be the basis of true religion" (p. 67). Christian Science is unfolding a new sense of existence, namely, the spiritual, the truth which Jesus demonstrated. Every one seeking an understanding of Christ, Truth, is encouraged by seeing in this Science the divine nature so clearly and definitely reflected that he is naturally drawn to God, the divine Principle of being. The sufferer, the sinner, or the unbeliever in Truth's absolute supremacy is destined to awaken from the dream of life in matter, into a spiritual consciousness of Life as God, Life expressed in universal goodness and harmony. In this better consciousness, hope, courage, and faith lead on to spiritual understanding. We read: "And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one."

Through the study of Christian Science spiritual ideas appear like the dawn of a beautiful day, and glow into meaning, blessedness, and fruition. No more profound event in the life of Jesus, previous to his resurrection, is recorded than the transfiguration. To transfigure means, according to Webster, "to change to something exalted and glorious; to give an ideal form to." In his account of this event, St. Mark adds, "After six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: ... And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; ... And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus."

In Christian Science, Spirit is God, and man reflects God spiritually, hence spirituality is the similitude of God. Science and Health gives the Christianly scientific definition of Moses as "a type of moral law and the demonstration thereof;" and of Elias as "prophecy; spiritual evidence opposed to material sense" (pp. 592, 585). To these three disciples, therefore, the transfiguration must have unveiled the far-reaching spiritual fact that in Christ Jesus law and prophecy were fulfilled. "For," as Paul has said, "it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." The Master's life was ideal and practical. Returning from the mount of transfiguration, Jesus' attention was immediately drawn to the case of a boy whom the disciples remaining at the foot of the mount had failed to cure. Reproving them for their lack of faith, their failure to heal him, Jesus said, "Bring him unto me," and he reassured the father of the boy with the words, "All things are possible to him that believeth."

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