Christian Science teaches every student very early in his experience that it is both important and necessary to translate the Bible into its spiritual or metaphysical meaning, and until we do this we fail to gain or demonstrate the vital healing power which its golden treasures disclose when revealed in their true light. It was the recognition of this great fact that enabled the apostle to the Gentiles to observe that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him," and then added, "Neither can he know them,"—that is subject them to scientific proof or demonstration,—"because they are spiritually discerned."

Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer of Christian Science for this day and age, has pointed to this very truism throughout her writings, and, what is most important of all, has taught us how we can gain this demonstrable knowledge of Holy Writ. She says in the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 241): "Take away the spiritual signification of Scripture, and that compilation can do no more for mortals than can moonbeams to melt a river of ice," and adds most significantly, "The error of the ages is preaching without practice." Christ Jesus demonstrated the truth far more than he talked about it. His recorded sayings are very meager in number in comparison with the long list of his mighty works brought down to us through the gospels, and our attention is forcefully called to this by Mrs. Eddy, whose teachings have enabled us to comprehend that what Jesus said was merely the outcome of what he did.

Now, on the basis of what he actually did, was Christ Jesus a true witness, and if so what was his testimony? He said: "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true," showing clearly that he could not bear true witness,—testify to the truth,—if he gave less than the entire glory to God. After referring to John as having been sent to bear witness to the truth, he gave utterance to these immortal words: "But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." He called upon the people to believe in his divine mission for the very works' sake, upon his bearing true witness, giving evidence in all that he did for sinful and suffering humanity. He was not bearing witness of himself, but of his Father, who is Love. And moreover it was his unfailing record of good works that proved then and for all time that he was a true witness. His testimony was the testimony of Spirit, of the only true God, who is Mind, and of His infinite manifestation, the universe including the true man, the idea of Mind. The model of the true witness as expressed in the earthly career of Christ Jesus shows us to-day and for all time that in the exact ratio in which we emulate his example can we bear witness to the truth. This testifying does not merely call for a confession of faith or subscribing to church tenets, but demands the proving of the unreality of sin and disease for ourselves and others.

The command to bear true witness is specifically covered in the ninth commandment, though stated negatively. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour." This is actually embodied in each of the Ten Commandments, which Moses doubtless presented in their different phases in the hope of penetrating the dull ears of the children of Israel, who had fallen into the grossest form of idol worship. While this command should of course be scrupulously observed in its literal sense, as in a court of law, yet it is obvious with a moment's reflection that much of its value would be lost if confined to this interpretation. Here again must we seek the spiritual meaning, unfolding to our understanding in the light of Christian Science. We break this command not only when we fail to tell the truth concerning our neighbor in mere oral or written word, but whenever we entertain aught but angels,—God's thoughts,—about all things. If we are angry, revengeful, or are guilty of sowing seeds of discord, hate, malice, and the like, either in ourselves or in others, we are bearing false witness, declaring for imperfection and evil rather than supporting the truth of being. Christian Science teaches us to resolve things into thoughts, for we are truly living in a thought world. When we do this we are faced with the unalterable fact that we are either bearing true witness, knowing and declaring the truth that makes free, or else we are bearing false witness, fastening on ourselves or others the lie that man can be aught but spiritual, an idea of divine Mind.

The complement of the ninth commandment is the injunction to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Founder of Christianity coupled this with the command to have no other gods and told his followers that there were no greater commandments than these. Mrs. Eddy refers to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" as a divine idea (Science and Health, p. 88). We can never love after this fashion until we learn that God is Love and not a god possessed of human passions and emotions, as He had been believed to be. This is the great lesson that Christian Science is teaching, not by mere abstractions, but by its message of healing, showing us that Christianity is practiced here and now, accomplishing the same mighty works as in the streets of Capernaum and Jerusalem two thousand years ago, proving that the true witness is manifested throughout all ages, the Christ, or Truth, the Comforter that was promised would abide with us forever.

Mrs. Eddy has summed it all up in the following: "God, without the image and likeness of Himself, would be a nonentity, or Mind unexpressed. He would be without a witness or proof of His own nature." This is on page 303 of Science and Health, and on page 411 we read: "If Spirit or the power of divine Love bear witness to the truth, this is the ultimatum, the scientific way, and the healing is instantaneous."