Article July 17, 1920 Issue

Love and Law

ROBERT RAMSEY

Paul in his epistle to the Romans defines Christianity by writing, "Love is the fulfilling of the law." If Paul meant the material law, then the love which fulfills it must also be material or personal. This sense of so-called love is illustrated in the bravery of an animal defending its young, and, when analyzed, is found to be grounded on the fear of death. In I John we read, "Perfect love casteth out fear;" therefore personal love based on fear is the counterfeit or exact opposite of divine Love. In the same way material law can be proved to be merely the counterfeit of spiritual law. It is therefore clear that Paul did not refer to personal love and material law. In fact, since Spirit is infinite, these have only a supposititious existence in belief. To replace the belief in personal love by the idea of divine Love is to rise from the material to the spiritual and so fulfill the law of Spirit.

Paul's statement can be inverted to read, "The fulfilling of the law is love." On page 17 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy we read, "Love is reflected in love." A dictionary defines law as, "Principle in action." A comparison of these three quotations shows how closely love is related to law. Law is one necessary evidence of the dawn of understanding. In Science and Health (p. 505) we read, "Understanding is the line of demarcation between the real and unreal." The law, therefore, based on the Ten Commandments of Moses, should indicate the line of demarcation between spiritual law and the so-called material law. In its inception law is always an attempt to express divine Love; for, when men gathered together, human laws were made to govern, protect, and insure justice amongst themselves. Government, protection, and justice are the expression of Principle; therefore if human law fails to express divine Love it is simply because of the insinuation of material belief. Whenever law has departed from the spirit of Love and has degenerated to the letter of materialism, it has departed from expressing Principle.

Christ Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount clearly drew the line between the law of love and the "ye have heard that it hath been said" formula of material sense. The healing work of Jesus was the essential expression of divine Love. Only through the healing of sickness and sin can divine Love be known in human experience. It was because of this that Jesus referred John the Baptist to his works rather than his words in proof of his Christhood. The demonstration of healing illustrates spiritual law, love, on the human plane by proving, in a degree, that perfect man is the result of perfect Principle. To the multitude the result of the works done by Jesus was conclusive, for almost invariably we read that "they glorified the God of Israel." It is a proof of the divinity of love when it leads thought up to God, divine Love.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Ideas
July 17, 1920
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit