Editorial April 7, 1956 Issue

"THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH"

Helen Wood Bauman

When Christ Jesus prophesied that the Father would send "another Comforter" to mankind, he described that Comforter as "the Spirit of truth" (see John 14). He said that the Comforter, or Holy Ghost, would bring to remembrance all that he had said. And then he gave this benediction: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." Our Master foresaw the spiritual peace which would accompany the understanding of the truth he taught and lived.

Christian Science fulfills the Master's prophecy, which implies that both the letter and the spirit of the Science of Life must be known. Students often grasp quickly the letter of this Science but find themselves wondering what they lack when healings do not follow their affirmations of Truth. Mary Baker Eddy makes clear what is needed when she writes in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 130), "The spirit of Truth is the lever which elevates mankind."

The letter of Science aids one in attaining the spirit of Truth, because the correct letter acts as a discipline to keep thought in accord with the spiritual facts of God and His creation. Accuracy of letter is consequently essential to spiritual unfoldment; it reverses false education and provides right reasoning. But it is through the spirit of Christliness that one comes to define reality and to separate the eternal creation of God from the temporal dream of material sense. When the spirit of Truth is attained, spiritual peace enfolds one; and one should persist in prayer until that peace is felt. Then healing follows.

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