Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES, IS
PLEA OF CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS

When it is recalled how these writings
were preserved, translated. and COM
piled in their present form, it is not
strange that there should be some APP
parent contradictions. But all the
discrepancies and Inconsistencies pale
into insignificance when the reader Is
able to discern the light of Truth and
recognizes the hand of God from first
to last.
The student of the Bible is impressed
by the fact that in all ages the people
reap the reward of obedience and pay
the penalty of disobedience. He is
convinced that the law of cause and
effect is in force today as of yore reg
ulating the affairs of human eXpe-
rience and pointing to the existence of
one infinite Interchangeable God who is
no respecter of persons. He finds the
teachings of the Bible summed up IN
that most remarkable of all discourses,
the Sermon on the Mount. When he
stops to contemplate the life of the
great preacher, he finds that even in
the minutest detail it was in strict
conformity with his doctrine, and that
he was able to prove by his work that
his teachings were not only true put
practical. And when one stops to con-
slider that the students of the worln 5
greatest teacher were able to 1olloW
the Iaster not only in words but IN
works. he is assured that the Blple
supplies a human need that is not sup
piled in any other way.
The world grows weary of human
interpretations of the Scriptures, whlch
are too often the result of an effort 10
prove a particular doctrine to be true,
rather than the result of an earnest
endeavor to gain the truth regardless
of preconceived opinions and practices
Suffering humanity yearns for pres
ent salvation and that Interpretation
of the Scriptures which enaples one "
show his faith by his works Is recelNeu
with Joy and thanksgiving.
II has been said that it is possible
to find scriptural authority for any
teaching. but this seems to be true
only because the theoretical lnterpre-
tntion of the Bible is received as the
correct one. 1t is possible to evolve
theories almost without NUMBER anu
when a theory is made the pasls ol
INTERPRETATION it seems to have scrip
tural support. The readers concept
of the Supreme Being IS before iIlia I'M
continually as he studies the Blole'
enabling him to see clearly, or obscur-
inc the true meaning, according TO MS
concept of God.
II is learned in Christian Science
that mere personal opinion amounts 10
nothing. 1t is only as humanity Is
able to get away from the material
sense of things that right conclusion
is reached. The practical worth OF
Christian Science is due to the fact
that the basis of all it teaches Is a
definition of God that is scriptural,
scientific, comprehensive and demon
strable. This definition of God illum-
ines the Scriptures and they are read
with greater interest and profit.
The Christian Scientist is learning
to search the Scriptures in way that
brings much present good to himself
and to others. He makes practlcal
application of the teachings of the
Bible and he learns from experience
that the Bible teaches how to heal
sickness, destroy sin and overcome all
forms of evil. He becomes convinced
that the understanding and applica-
ton of the teachings of the Bible is
the thing most needed in all the af-
fairs of life, business and social as
we'll as religious. Familiar texts come
to him with q clearer and deeper
meaning as occasion requires. Day by
day he sees the need of understanding
the Bible, for it points the way of life
and teaches him how to avail himself
of the innumerable blessings bestowed
by his heavenly Father Truly the
Word of God is the voice of Truth TO
suffering humanity and only needs to
be understood and lived to bring a
present salvation from all evil, sick
ness as we'll as sin.-Christian Science
Monitor.