Article March 27, 1920 Issue

Holiness

CLITHEROE C. HENDY

The writer of the ninety-third psalm gives great weight to the statutes of the law, the Ten Commandments, when he says, "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever." In John's gospel we read, "The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." Now, Jesus observed the law more consistently than has any other teacher. His meat and drink were to do the will of God. He was always about his Father's business. He acknowledged the supremacy of the law by his willing obedience thereto.

Mrs. Eddy placed herself in line with and based her teachings on the precepts and example of the Master, and thus proved for herself and for others the value of his statement, "If ye continue in my word . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." This exact statement of Principle is at the standpoint of scientific demonstration, and challenges both skeptic and believer. The two tables of the law were held in great reverence by holy men of old. Israel, under the theocracy, was governed by the law; this made it different from surrounding nations. In "the fulness of the time," however, the law was understood to be more than a mere distinction that separated one race from another. It was really a spiritual intuition to those in every nation who were found seeking to obey Principle.

When the psalmist says, "Thy testimonies are very sure," the word "sure" implies that there is no possibility of wavering. Therefore we admit that the law is infallible and unchanging; it cannot be partial, it preserves equal rights for all. This understanding lifts it above and out of the physical into the divinely metaphysical, and it should be interpreted from that standpoint. To say that living in obedience to God's law is wholesome, or wholly good, or is holiness (wholeness), is to admit a truism. Holiness is concomitant with loving obedience. In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" our Leader says (p. 11), "We know that a desire for holiness is requisite in order to gain holiness; but if we desire holiness above all else, we shall sacrifice everything for it. We must be willing to do this, that we may walk securely in the only practical road to holiness." Obedience to spiritual law is true holiness.

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