Law and Love

ROBERT ELLIS KEY

In times of depression and uncertainty the human mind is inclined to run in the direction of chance and speculation in its quest for prosperity. But this tendency is easily resisted and destroyed when once the truth of Christian Science in regard to the law of God is understood.

The student of this Science understands that there is a law of God applicable to every event and circumstance. He learns that as this law is obeyed experience is brought under the government of Soul; and thus he does not consider a beneficial event as a lucky chance which might have happened anyway. Regarded in the light of Christian Science, all good comes through law; and the fact that good comes to one is evidence of the operation of God's law. This law never works in extremes. It never deprives the many in order to give to the few. It gives to all who diligently seek it, and its gifts are bounteous, free, joyous, universal, and satisfying. As the laws governing the science of music must be understood in order to express the manifold harmonies of a beautiful composition, so the marvelous good which God has prepared and shed abroad for His children to enjoy can be manifested only as the divine law is understood and obeyed.

The Psalmist sings of the man whose "delight is in the law of the Lord;" and he goes on to tell us that such a one shall be "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." When Jesus fed the five thousand, he relied upon God's law. Knowing there is no lack of heavenly good, he could know no limit; and understanding supply to be spiritual and ever present, he fed the hungry multitude, which the disciples, less loving and with less spiritual understanding, would have sent away unsatisfied.

Not only did Jesus understand God's law, but he understood also God's love; for law and love are at-one in the realm of the heavenly kingdom. Whatever is unloving is unlawful; and whatever is unkind is untrue. The laws of Truth are kind, impartial, satisfying, and good, bringing blessings to all who seek the heavenly manna.

Another point to notice in the Master's application of God's love is that he met everyone who came to him for healing at the point where each seemed to be. True, there were those who found his teaching hard and turned back from following him. But these were not the ones who hungered and thirsted after righteousness—not the little children who gathered around him to hear the sweet words and gentle benedictions of love. Those who longed for spiritual good understood him; and giving thanks they went on their way rejoicing, conscious of the fact that they had found a teacher who understood both love and law, and who fed them with a heavenly manna from a spiritual and unfailing source.

How lovingly, for instance, he spoke to the daughter of Jairus when he went to awaken her from the sleep of death in which she seemed to be lying. The phrase, "Talitha cumi," was just such a greeting as the child's mother might use each morning to arouse her from the night's refreshing rest. There was love behind the Master's voice when he uttered those memorable words in the dialect which a little Galilean girl could understand, and with the love there was also the understanding of law—the law that sustains man's immortal life. Mrs. Eddy writes (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 427), "Man's individual being can no more die nor disappear in unconsciousness than can Soul, for both are immortal."

How eternally true is the poet's phrase, "All's love, but all's law"! And how futile and erroneous is the belief that we can gain good by departing from the unerring law of God, the law which is a lamp, indeed, unto our feet and a light unto our path, leading us in ways of righteousness and revealing the eternal affluence which is ours here and now, if we will only seek first the kingdom of heaven.

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