Article April 6, 1929 Issue

Preservation

JOHN LAWRENCE SINTON

The Bible contains many records of individual and national preservation; and the recorded instances are inherently scientific. Though appearing to the material senses to be infractions of so-called natural law, they were the result of the action in human experience of spiritual law. Furthermore, these instances of preservation afford unquestionable proof of God's loving-kindness to men, and illustrate His supreme wisdom and His reward of fidelity. Noah, for instance, working under divine direction, saved himself and his family from the flood; Joseph was able to preserve and bless his brethren in time of acute famine; Moses, through his spiritual fitness, received the Ten Commandments after leading Israel out from Egyptian bondage and over the Red Sea, finally bringing them to the borders of the promised land. Likewise David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and others were instruments for the manifestation of divine preservation in the individual and national life of Israel.

Only as Israel obeyed and fulfilled the Commandments of the Decalogue did it prosper as a nation, and discern itself as God's chosen people. As, through the allurements and idolatries of the carnal mind, it lost sight of these inspired Commandments, it became enveloped in materialism; and so it continued until the long-promised Saviour proclaimed anew the goodness of God and ushered in the new dispensation of Christianity. And the inspired record survived to teach continuously its immortal lessons. Can we be sufficiently grateful for this? Considering, too, that our Bible bears witness to God's healing power, through divine Love, in numerous instances, can we wonder that our inspired Leader, Mrs. Eddy, has written (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 363), "The Bible is the learned man's masterpiece, the ignorant man's dictionary, the wise man's directory"?

The Bible's great mission is to reveal God to mankind and to unfold His supreme power of preservation. This joyous unfoldment is bestowed "without money and without price," but it can be received only through humility and meekness. The inspired Word reiterates the omnipotence and omnipresence of God and the unceasing goodness of His all-inclusive selfhood. Understanding God, good, as the "Great First Cause," we arrive at the truth of His creation, the complete, infinite expression of divine Mind, as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good." Commenting on this momentous statement, Mrs. Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 519): "Deity was satisfied with His work. How could He be otherwise, since the spiritual creation was the outgrowth, the emanation, of His infinite self-containment and immortal wisdom?" The universe, including man, is forever under the divine government and jurisdiction, subject only to divine Mind. Into this spiritually perfect state evil cannot enter.

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