Editorial September 9, 1922 Issue

Divine Love

Duncan Sinclair

In Christian Science God is referred to by different synonyms; and, probably, the one which appeals most strongly to the burdened heart of humanity is Love, the term used by the Apostle John when he said, "God is love," Who can fathom the depths of divine Love? To catch even a glimpse of its meaning is to be relieved to some extent of the burden of materiality; to understand it completely would be to grasp the full meaning of the perfect creation of God. Divine Love is universal, nowhere and in no wise limited. That, as Christian Science teaches, is the nature of God, a knowledge of which can heal the sorrows and sufferings of all mankind.

Now God, divine Love, is the creator, and man is His creation. And since man is the creation of God, man must reflect or image the perfect, divine Principle. Therefore man loves, because it is the law of his being to reflect divine Love. Think how this statement of truth contradicts much of human experiece. Mortals appear to fear and hate and destroy, in opposition to divine law, the law of man's real being. The world, during the long past centuries, has allowed itself to be convulsed by every miserable passion of human belief; kindness, gentleness, generosity, affection, reigning for brief periods, only to be apparently overcome by waves of uncontrolled evil. This is recognized by every one. It may be read in every historical textbook, as well as in the experience of every mortal.

The questions which come to all alike are, How can the world be healed? How can mankind be freed from evil belief, and from its consequences? Christian Science answers the questions by declaring that mankind will be saved from false belief by obtaining an understanding of divine Love, and by applying this understanding, with constancy and with consistency, to every problem which may arise in human experience. Christian Science puts in the very forefront of its teaching the truth that man reflects divine Love; and that, therefore, as men grow in the spiritual understanding of Love they will demonstrate the fact in human relationships in an ever increasing degree. Our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, on page 454 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," draws attention to the power of Love as follows: "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way." Then she adds, "Love is priestess at the alter of Truth." Who has not realized this to some extent? A man may be, presumably, as erudite as the British Encyclopædia without being able to heal any form of disease; for it is Love that heals, and man reflects divine Love.

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