It has often been maintained that the very general employment of symbol and metaphor throughout the books of the Bible has made it difficult for western thought to regard their teaching as practical and adequate to the daily needs of modern life. Yet there is something in poetic imagery of the Scriptures which rivets attention and helps to elucidate the meaning of the text in a very striking way. The writer's attention was especially drawn to this fact when the following verse was read during a Christian Science service: "I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the Lord."

The use of the term betroth implies a covenant, or contract, for that which is to be fulfilled at a future time; a condition binding upon both parties. It holds up to view the necessity for working out our own salvation, and it would be difficult to convey so full a meaning in any other words. Faithfulness demands continuity of action, prolonged testing and proof. The knowledge of God is the sure reward of unswerving obedience to our highest understanding of Truth. There must be constant readiness to fulfil the calls made upon our faith and loyalty in the service of God. It is seldom, indeed, that the crown of faithfulness has been attained in this sphere of action. To Moses was given the tribute of high achievement, since of him it is recounted that he was faithful "as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after." Of Christ Jesus it is written that he "was faithful to him that appointed him," and "as a son over his own house;" and in the first chapter of the Revelation of St. John the apostle speaks of Christ Jesus as "the faithful witness."

Christian Science is gaining adherents in all parts of the world, among all conditions and classes, just because it is impressing them as a practical religion, a demonstrable truth. It is indeed a call to strenuous overcoming, to an admittedly strenuous warfare with material belief, dogma, and sensetestimony. All these must be combated and conquered, as taught in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," through the demonstration of divine law, and the individual consciousness is the place for the contest. Mrs. Eddy says: "Love must triumph over hate. Truth and Life must seal the victory over error and death, before the thorns can be laid aside for a crown, the benediction follow, 'Well done, good and faithful servant,' and the supremacy of Spirit be demonstrated." "Let us be faithful in pointing the way through Christ, as we understand it, but let us also be careful always to 'judge righteous judgment,' and never to condemn rashly" (Science and Health, pp. 43, 444).

Faithfulness is an attribute of God, and is reflected by His image and likeness. We know that the promises of God are sure; that He "with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," can never do less than fulfil the law which is Love, the word which is Truth. As Christian Scientists we soon learn the essential nature of this quality of Mind. It is demanded of us in all the phases of the work we have to do. If we are not faithful in the little things of daily life, neither shall we be in the greater. If we do not at least try to destroy the lesser errors presented to our thought, — that is, as far as we are able to discern their false character, — we shall not be fitted to cope with the greater ones. But if we earnestly and honestly are striving to overcome, and to perform faithfully that which seems given to us to do, we shall find that we are growing in understanding and in the right apprehension of what the faithfulness of God toward His children really means.

Such an attainment will bring with it a fuller assurance of faith, a trust and confidence in the all-protecting power of divine Love which will make the greater tasks, when they come, seem easier than we could ever have hoped to find them. It is not by remaining in the darkness and by submitting to evil that wrong is righted, but by faithfully keeping guard and watching for the light, by turning continually to good, declaring its all-power, that the false claims of mortal mind are fairly met and overcome.

Another gain that is ours in the faithful keeping watch over our thought, and the consequent unfolding of God's faithfulness, is the ability to leave results to the Almighty. The calm trust in and certainty of the word declared, forbid doubt or anxiety, or any sense of our inadequacy to the task, for we know of a truth that He will bring it to pass. God alone gives the increase, and the knowledge of having faithfully done our best to declare Him aright is enough to bring the conviction that, as all results lie with God alone, there is no possible failure, no returning void, whatever sense-testimony may claim to affirm. When Jesus of Nazareth mourned his seeming failure to attract to Love's protecting care the wilful inhabitants of Jerusalem, discouragement claimed temporary admittance; but when spiritual insight kept truth clearly in view, he declared, in the face of the most formidable opposition, that no jot or tittle of the truth he taught, or the words he uttered as taught of the Father, could ever pass away.

In considering for a moment the continuity of effort which faithfulness demands, we find how impossible it is that there should be anything spasmodic or emotional about Christian Science. It is quiet, purposeful, steady work that counts. Faithful service is not the effort of a passing moment, but the willing and desired life-work of the one who serves. In human affairs a valued and faithful retainer may at times manifest undesirable characteristics of self-importance, but humility and self-abnegation must ever accompany the followers of Christ Jesus. It is this alone that brings the joy and gladness of the certainty of the sure reward, the "crown of righteousness."

It is equally clear that a right understanding of the service to be rendered is of the highest importance. The fact that we learn this in Christian Science is a reason for deep gratitude with those who have been led to study it. That this study must be continuous is self-evident, since the subject is limitless. Although the way out of material belief may seem long and arduous, we know "he is faithful that promised," and we too shall be betrothed unto the Lord in faithfulness.