Article January 8, 1916 Issue

Healing by Spiritual Law

ROBERT NALL

Because the use of the written formula in the work of demonstrating Christian Science must inevitably lead to dependence upon the letter rather than upon the spirit, our Leader forbade it, and generally speaking students have loyally recognized the wisdom which dictated this action. But what about the verbal formula? Is there not a danger that we may fall into the habit of very frequently using words and phrases, in speaking of Christian Science, about which we have but a superficial knowledge? Truth is metaphysical, and should therefore be understood spiritually. Every word of truth in the Bible and in Science and Health must be metaphysically interpreted and applied before it manifests its purifying and redeeming power. Because human thought must be educated out of its falsities, or rather because every wrong concept must be eliminated from the human mind, we have statements of truth in these volumes that can only be illuminated, understood, and translated into healing potency as we recognize that there is a benign law at the back of them,—a law which is metaphysical, and which therefore cannot be apprehend or conceived of by the corporeal senses.

When we think, for instance, of the "scientific statement of being" on page 468 of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mrs. Eddy, we can all remember numberless instances in which it has been like a shaft of light from the throne of God, penetrating the darkened mentality, and so dispersing ignorance and fear that there has occurred what, until we came to know the Science of spiritual healing, would have been called a miracle. This was the effect of the operation of the law of Love, or spiritual law, the only law which has any real existence or power.

The popular meaning of law is a rule of action established by authority, or that which is lawful and therefore right according to human judgment. The definition given by a famous statesman was that "law is beneficence acting by rule." In Science we substitute "Love" for "rule," and thereby at once mentally depict spiritual causation, and accept as an eternal fact of being that God is the only cause and creator. This is what the student who is puzzling over metaphysical definitions and terms, or the sufferer who is despondent because he has not yet been freed from the fetters of mortal belief, needs to understand. It is not what one thinks about God, but what one knows about Him, that initiates and perpetuates healing activity. But knowledge comes from right thought, and as right thought emanates from God and can never be stagnant or dilatory, it goes back to God and becomes the prayer of faith that heals. That is beneficence acting by Love. It is the fulfilment of law. It was in obedience to this that Christ Jesus, by example and precept, taught how the sick are healed and the sinner is reformed.

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