Editorial November 24, 1934 Issue

"The sustaining infinite"

Duncan Sinclair

In her introduction to the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy writes (Pref., p. vii), "To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings," words which have arrested the attention of many a weary seeker for comfort and healing on his first approach to Christian Science. They have a striking similarity in meaning to those of the twentieth verse of the one hundred and forty-fifth Psalm, "The Lord preserveth all them that love him," and to the first verse of the fifty-ninth chapter of Isaiah, "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear."

Two questions may arise in the thought of those who read the sentence just quoted from Science and Health. The first is, What is meant by "the sustaining infinite"; what is its nature? The second, What does it mean to lean on "the sustaining infinite" in order to be blessed? And thus is approach made to the teachings of Christian Science which supply the answers; teachings which are clearly and fully set forth in the textbook.

"The sustaining infinite" is God. But merely to say this may not make the meaning of the term much if any clearer to the questioner. Indeed, it is essential that the nature of God should be made known or revealed to him; and this is what Christian Science does. God, then, is the infinite One, the infinite divine Principle, Mind, or Spirit, whose creation is the spiritual universe, including man. Since God is infinite Mind, His universe must be the infinite idea of Mind. Hence man is eternally at one with and everlastingly sustained by his creator. Further, God is Love. This emphasizes the fact that God's creation, man, is infinitely cared for, and therefore is eternally safe, since Love is infinitely loving.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Editorial

"As also I am known"