Article April 16, 1927 Issue

Because "precept must be upon precept; line upon line;...

J. Ormiston Thomson, Committee on Publication for Victoria, Australia,—Geelong

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Because "precept must be upon precept; line upon line; ... here a little, and there a little," so it has to be constantly repeated that Christian Science is based upon the truth that God made man in His image and likeness, not material but spiritual. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, writes on page 5 of her book "Unity of Good," "Every one should be encouraged not to accept any personal opinion on so great a matter, but to seek the divine Science of this question of Truth by following upward individual convictions, undisturbed by the frightened sense of any need of attempting to solve every Life-problem in a day." Christian Scientists are able to give a reason for the faith that is in them, but they have to be careful that their reasons are not misunderstood because of the ignorance of the questioner of the rudiments of Christian Science. In many cases it is wiser to refer inquirers to the standard textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mrs. Eddy. An illustration of this misunderstanding is given in a contributed article by a pastor in your recent issue. A conversation had evidently arisen as to the Christian Science view of the relative importance of the life or death of our Lord and Saviour. It is not to be supposed that the conversation stopped just where the record stops, or that a Christian Scientist was surprised or confused at the pastor's claim of the necessity for a Saviour; for this latter is in accordance with the teaching of Christian Science. Mrs. Eddy was once asked, "If mortal man is unreal, how can he be saved, and why does he need to be saved?" Her reply, which may be found on pages 89 and 90 of "Miscellaneous Writings," reads in part: "You will find the proper answer to this question in my published works. Man is immortal. Mortal man is a false concept. ... Immortal man, in God's likeness, is safe in divine Science. Mortal man is saved on this divine Principle, if he will only avail himself of the efficacy of Truth, and recognize his Saviour." Many references are made in Mrs. Eddy's writings to the Saviour, and on Christmas, 1888, she preached a sermon, taking Isaiah 9:6 as her text, on "The Corporeal and Incorporeal Saviour" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 161). A beautiful Christian Science hymn, written by Mrs. Eddy (Poems, p. 75), begins:

"Saw ye my Saviour? Heard ye the glad sound?
Felt ye the power of the Word?
T was the Truth that made us free,
And was found by you and me
In the life and the love of our Lord."

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