Article December 30, 1916 Issue

The New Tongue

ROBERT NALL

"Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" The two disciples on the way to Emmaus had heard the new tongue, that "spiritual sense of the Scriptures" which "brings out the scientific sense," as Mrs. Eddy explains on page 272 of our text-book, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." It was a revelation to them; they understood the truth as never before. Their experience was not unique, however, although to them it may have seemed to be, for the new tongue is the spiritual tongue of all ages. The pure truth that it speaks is heard more clearly and in more certain tones when materialism is hushed. It has never been quite silent, though sensualism has sought to stifle it and the old dragon would have silenced it. With many of the household of faith in all time it has been vocal in power, in illumination, in unfoldment. To all such it is articulate with joy and praise and encouragement. To the weary it is rest; to the despondent a stimulus; to the sorrowing comfort; to the sinner pardon and transformation.

The vibrant tones of the new tongue may be heard in every page of the Bible. It has been echoed and reechoed in the writings of many saints in the church universal, but its consummation in spiritual efficacy, as the voice of God speaking to men, is found in the words and the works of Christ Jesus. With him the new tongue revealed that life which all his followers may have "more abundantly;" it was the language, the spirit, the presence of the Father, of whom he was the perfect manifestation and reflection. Now it was in seeking to explain the "miracle" of her healing that our Leader, divinely guided to search the Scriptures, there found, as she relates, that they had to her "a new meaning, a new tongue. Their spiritual signification appeared." Thence came her discovery of the "absolute Science of Mind-healing" (Retrospection and Introspection, pp. 25, 27). Thence too she learned to indite the words of Life, to expound the truth in language that is clarifying human thought, and to teach mankind that the "signs" which follow "them that believe" (understand) Christ are the tangible, demonstrable evidence of a spiritual power which not only heals the sick, but attests that "the tabernacle of God is with men." For, indeed, is it not true now, as ever, that no one can gain spiritual knowledge and do the works which Jesus and his disciples did, except God be with him? Therefore with this revival and reinstatement of the new tongue of the gospel we are assured that God dwells with men, and they are His people; that the realization of the at-one-ment between God and man breaks the fetters of false sense, and confers the power to go from strength to strength in the destruction of error and the attainment of physical and spiritual freedom.

Do we know the new tongue when we hear it? Are we making it an integral part of our spiritual curriculum? Can we interpret its meaning so that it becomes to us as the "Verily, verily, I say unto you" of the Master? It should breathe to us of unity of faith and of fidelity to Principle. Because its origin is divine, its credentials impeccable, it should satisfy every troubled heart. It is God's first and last message of love, and if in quiet moments, when material sense has ceased to clamor, one listens attentively, he will hear it saying to a sin-tossed, weary world, "Peace, be still."

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

On the Mountain Top