Many students of the Bible have found inspiration and comfort from its teachings, even though they have generally taken these teachings literally. But what a revelation it is to these students when they discover that the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mary Baker Eddy, is indeed a key to the Scriptures!

In this textbook, students learn the spiritual meaning of Bible passages and understand their real significance. Well-known Bible verses become of practical value in human affairs. Students soon realize the truth of Mrs. Eddy's statement in Science and Health (p. 320), "The one important interpretation of Scripture is the spiritual." The spiritual sense of the Scriptures is the scientific sense, which makes Bible truths subject to proof.

The power of a single Bible truth understood spiritually has often accomplished great things. The following is one such instance. While two friends and I were motoring in Glacier National Park in the United States, we drove over Logan Pass several times in clear weather. This is the highest point of the road in that mountainous region. One day later on, when starting the climb, we noticed a little white mist at the top of the highest peak. The harmless-looking bit of mist, however, rapidly swooped down and enveloped the car. I at once turned to my understanding of Christian Science for protection.

When I heard the driver say that even with headlights on at their brightest, she could not see whether or not she was keeping in the right lane, I thought of this Bible verse (Ex. 23:20): "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared."

I knew the spiritual sense of angels to be true thoughts from God, and "the way" to be a mental one, a purely spiritual state of mind in which all is perfect and enduring. This spiritual understanding of the verse brought an assurance of God's presence and unerring guidance. A car coming from the opposite direction was passed safely, although it could not be seen until the front left wheels of both cars were adjacent.

The dense atmosphere continued until we were ready to make the descent on the other side of the pass. Adhering unwaveringly to the spiritual fact of the presence and protecting power of divine Love prevented the slightest mishap during the entire trip of several hours on a road with a drop of thousands of feet on one side most of the way.

Even in that density, there was light, the mental enlightenment of ever-present Love asserting its sustaining and preserving power.

While the caption "Key to the Scriptures" is placed within the Christian Science textbook just before its four chapters, the preceding chapters likewise function as an aid in gaining the right interpretation of the Bible. Students are increasingly impressed with the depth of meaning of the Lord's Prayer, given to the world by Christ Jesus, when studied in the light of the spiritual interpretation which Mrs. Eddy gives of it in Science and Health (pp. 16 and 17). The understanding of this prayer inevitably uplifts thought and brings healing when needed.

The writer and others known to her have experienced healing through the understanding of the truth in the very first lines alone, quoted as follows:

The additional word "Mother" reveals the completeness of our heavenly Parent and brings God closer to the thought of humanity. Realizing the truth that our universal Father-Mother is all-harmonious dispels the illusion of discord's being present anywhere.

The scientific meaning of the entire Lord's Prayer affords the opportunity to fulfill our duty of acknowledging God as supreme in every way, points out the highest Christian attitude toward our neighbors, and supplies all human needs.

The key to the Scriptures fulfills this prophecy in Revelation (3:8), "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." This prophecy definitely points to the teachings of Christian Science, the Comforter which leads into all truth.

To many, the Bible was a closed book until Christian Science provided the key which reveals its metaphysical meaning. Mrs. Eddy writes on page 99 of Science andHealth: "Truth has furnished the key to the kingdom, and with this key Christian Science has opened the door of the human understanding. None may pick the lock nor enter by some other door."

This key is offered to all mankind in the Christian Science textbook and is cause for gratitude without ceasing.