Article December 31, 1966 Issue

Learning Love

DUNCAN B. MACKIE

"The vital part, the heart and soul of Christian Science, is Love," Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health.^{Science and Health, p. 113} In the same work, which is the textbook of Christian Science, she reveals seven synonyms for God; and then in many ways indicates that the synonym of greatest importance in gaining an understanding of Him is Love.

As students of Christian Science many of us would doubtless agree that while from time to time it may appear that we are making rewarding progress in learning God through the synonyms, Life, Truth, Mind, Soul, Spirit, and Principle, we are often keenly aware of a pressing need for a greater understanding of Him as divine Love. The Apostle Paul may have been thinking in this vein when he wrote to the church at Corinth: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."^{I Cor. 13:1, 2}

From Mrs. Eddy's extensive writings, which grew from a life of selfless labor for the benefit of all mankind, we may learn something of what she knew of the boundless depth of divine Love. Among these, an article in "Miscellaneous Writings" has been outstanding inspiration to the writer. There, under the title "Love," she writes: "What a word! I am in awe before it. Over what worlds on worlds it hath range and is sovereign! the underived, the incomparable, the infinite All of good, the alone God, is Love."^{Mis., pp. 249, 250} And farther on, she adds, "I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results."