FROM the earliest history of the human race, mankind has been reaching out for the truth which frees from every belief that so-called mortal mind suggests. All through the Old Testament we have the proof of the power of God to heal, to protect, and to supply human needs, as shown in the lives of those who have understood Him best.

Jesus came demonstrating to the fullest extent the truth about God and man's relation to Him. Only a few in our Master's time caught the real import of his teachings; and this brought healing to the sick, purification to the sinning, and comfort to the weary ones weighted down with the cares of the world. But materialism appeared to creep into the pure spiritual teachings of Christ Jesus, and men began to disagree over ritual, dogma, and ceremonial, which were merely human opinions and speculations or the outcome of these. They became as the mist that would hide the truth which Jesus, as our Way-shower, spent his earthly life in teaching and proving. The vital part of Christianity seemed, for a time, to be obscured. It remained for our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, through her faithful, consistent, patient, and consecrated devotion to the Christ, Truth, to reveal again to humanity that which does bring peace, joy, and dominion over all that is unlike God, good.

To-day many are finding in Christian Science a way out of sickness and sin and limitation of all kinds. But let those who may be struggling with some problem and who have not yet seemed to find an answer, consider a case in mathematics. Would you question a rule in numbers simply because you failed to apply it correctly? Or again, would you expect to work out a complete problem by applying only a part of the rule involved? Certainly not! Yet that is apparently what we sometimes find students of Christian Science trying to do. They fail to utilize in their daily lives the truths it so clearly sets forth, and then wonder why it does not fulfill its mission in solving their daily problems. The fault, however, is not with divine Principle, but in the application of it. In just the proportion that we use the rules of our religion will our difficulties be untangled. The answers to these problems will always be correct if they are arrived at through an understanding of divine Principle and its laws, which are unchanging and eternal.

In Ecclesiastes we read, "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." This has been interpreted by Mrs. Eddy on page 340 of the textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," as, "Love God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole of man in His image and likeness." The humble Nazarene gave us two commandments,—namely, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength," and, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." Obedience to the second commandment should naturally follow obedience to the first, since to love God perfectly would include knowing Him; and to know Him as the origin, source, or Principle of all existence would of necessity bring one into the right relationship with one's fellow-men.

Christian Science, as given to us by Mrs. Eddy, reveals the way to demonstrate the Christianity which Jesus presented to the world. The divine Principle of Christian Science is God; and to demonstrate Christian Science one must learn to know God aright. For how can we love God as Jesus commanded us to do unless we do know Him? We must know Him intimately, as did Christ Jesus. Enoch, we are told, before his translation, pleased God. To Moses were given the divine guidance and intelligence to deliver the children of Israel out of bondage. Daniel understood God's protecting power enough to come forth from the lions' den unharmed. David's understanding of God gave us many of the psalms. Jesus' every act during his earthly existence so reflected God that it gave him dominion over every inharmonious condition that presented itself to him.

All through the intervening years there have been spiritually-minded men and women who have caught glimpses of the value of this knowledge of God to men; and what blesses the individual must necessarily benefit the nations. "Whatever blesses one blesses all," our Leader tells us (Science and Health, p. 206). The Jewish people must have recognized this fact; for all through Biblical history we are reminded that they taught their children concerning the things of God that their nation might be blessed and preserved.

How, then, may we begin to know God aright? In answer to the question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" Mrs. Eddy says on page 495 of the textbook: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit. Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love." Jesus said in his talk to Nicodemus, "Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God;" and, farther on in the narrative, "That which is born of the flesh in flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,"—the whole implying that one must recognize man's spiritual origin and deny the testimony of the corporeal senses. Now self-knowledge, meekness, and love are essential to the understanding of this. Jesus said, "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Proportionately as we approach Truth through the Bible and Science and Health with the unbiased thought of a little child will heaven be revealed to us.

May we strive, then, to apply more fully what we already know of Christian Science that we may gain a greater knowledge of God's goodness. May we work to keep our thoughts pure, and to know that no night can envelop us in silence. Every unkind thought, every wrong impulse, will thus be dispelled, and in their place some helpful thought will appear, some kindly act, some unselfish work be done. May each new day bring forth more gratitude for the wonderful truth of Christian Science, which Mrs. Eddy has made available to all mankind.