In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 587) Mary Baker Eddy defines "God" as "the great I am; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal; Principle; Mind; Soul; Spirit; Life; Truth; Love; all substance; intelligence." We also learn from this textbook that the universe, including man, is comprised of spiritual ideas which eternally reflect divine Mind, and are sustained and harmoniously controlled by divine law.

A definition of "law" as given by Webster is: "A divine commandment or revelation; God's will." In proportion as thought reflects the qualities and attributes of God, mankind is governed by and expresses God's will. In Isaiah we read, "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." This indicates that God's will is imperative, and that mankind must eventually yield thereto. This yielding may seem slow, but it is nevertheless taking place through the activity of spiritual law. This activity is seen in many righteous human laws, ever tending toward greater harmony and peace.

Laws formulated by political, religious, and social organizations prove beneficent and efficient when the elements of unbending autocracy are replaced with the spirit of the Golden Rule, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Spiritual law unfolds good, and only good. Human laws are framed to correct evils and to prevent crime. But these human laws, premised in the belief of good and evil as coexistent, must continue subject to change as improved concepts of wisdom, justice, mercy, and love unfold in human consciousness. True law commands active allegiance through spiritual attraction, not suppression.

Feverish haste in seeking material possessions and pleasures, when spiritual good is all and eternal; rising against fancied wrongs under the guise of a false sense of dignity, when in reality divine Love rules; pride of ancestry and culture, when God is Father-Mother of all and the only intelligence; searching in the dead past for destructive beliefs, and battling with them, when God has provided life, health, and peace in abundance—none of these false processes are in accordance with spiritual law. Is it not apparent that, on the contrary, they express states and stages of fear, arising from belief in a power apart from God, good, and constantly exacting a heavy toll of suffering from humanity? Note what Mrs. Eddy says regarding this (Science and Health, p. 381): "When infringing some supposed law, you say that there is danger. This fear is the danger and induces the physical effects."

Since God is the only Mind, and since the real man reflects divine intelligence, it is evident that divine Mind is the only source of perfect jurisprudence. No great culture is requisite to accept the fact that law, emanating from divine Mind, exact and unchangeable Principle, is not only constant and just, but is also loving and almighty, since divine Love is omnipotent. This fact is so simple that little children readily demonstrate the healing truth it unfolds.

Truth destroys error, good destroys evil, and love destroys hate. To the degree that these corrective qualities—truth, good, and love—are reflected in human codes is obedience manifested and human activity harmoniously regulated; for even the lowest types of mortals are susceptible to humane influences.

The Bible reveals true law. Christian Science likewise reveals true law; and because of this it is breaking up the false beliefs of the ages. To be obedient to true law, the law of God, good, means to supplant material concepts contrary to good with the understanding of Truth and with love for God and man. One may disobey human laws and not be found out, but disobedience to spiritual law results in self-inflicted punishment. Hiding behind indifference is no excuse for ignoring this fact, and affords no protection from the ill effects arising out of such ignorance. Obedience to human laws promotes the progress of the body politic. Obedience to spiritual law brings wholesome self-government and individual reward. Obedience sees the beauty of law—God's law, which is a fountain of joy.

To the degree that mortals understand God and the real man's relation to Him, accept His law and cease interposing beliefs contrary thereto, they become beneficiaries thereof. God's law is applicable universally, collectively, individually, and irrespectively of persons or of the nature of their false beliefs; and this law scientifically unfolds God's blessings. When in despair over a difficult business problem, a Christian Scientist had occasion to apply this law, and the problem was beautifully solved.

To the degree that the law of God, good, is obeyed, mortals arise out of wrong thinking and outgrow the effects of false beliefs. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Truth declares that spiritual man is governed by the law of God, good; hence, he is invariably at the standpoint of harmonious activity and constantly reflecting good. Proportionately as mankind accepts the truth, false beliefs give place to immortal consciousness, man's eternal dominion is revealed, and the truth that there is only one man, God's idea, as there is only one God, is individually realized. What an inspiration for loyalty and endeavor! Christ Jesus spoke "as one having authority." He knew and proved obedience to the law of God to be the only way to eternal life.

Divine Love is the underlying Principle of all true activity. How gratefully Mrs. Eddy pays homage to Christ Jesus for his demonstration of God's law, the law of Love! How grateful are Christian Scientists to our Leader for her devotion and selfless activity in giving to the world the revelation of divine Science, through the understanding of which mortals may prove the utility of the law of Love!

Through the Bible and Science and Health, God's law is revealed to mankind; and this law will eventually command universal obedience and bring to pass universal peace. The individual who, even in the midst of great tumult, understanding God's law and obeys it, is doing his part toward unfolding the demonstration of universal good. Mrs. Eddy says (Science and Health, p. 454), "Love inspires, illumines, designates, and leads the way."

Principle is divine Love; and Love is requisite to give law reality and power, affording light to faltering footsteps. Mortals comply with the law of God by loving God, good, and their neighbor as themselves. What a sense of assurance and peace enters thought as Love and Truth unfold their healing qualities through divine law! Through meekness and submission thought ascends into the realm of perfect being, where all true ideas are revealed as governed by spiritual law.

Discordant conditions disappear as God's law is understandingly applied. We prove this in our healing work. All who declare the truth honestly observe with joy certain effects which indicate the orderly unfoldment of God's good law. They also become grateful for their increasing understanding of Immanuel, or "God with us." They who have obtained a workable understanding of God's law are a law unto themselves in the highest sense, because they are conforming to divine Principle. They are grateful that God's law meets all human needs as thought rises above error of belief. When it is fully understood that nothing but good ever had real existence, gratitude will become an everlasting pæan of praise.

The code of spiritual law is found in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He that follows this code gains the understanding of true law and abides in good. As the Psalmist sang, "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

Copyright, 1930, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, Falmouth and St. Paul Streets, Boston, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918.