WHAT is called worldly wisdom says that a knowledge of evil is essential to a proper knowledge of good; also, that good and evil coexist in primal forms, because nearly if not every identity in the material world in some degree manifests both good and evil. The serpent (or Satan) first announced the theory of dual nature in the garden of Eden, declaring that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought forth fruit that made its partakers wise. It will be agreed that it is of the highest importance to humanity that a right perception of true knowledge be attained, if possible. This attainment is not only indispensable to the correct interpretation of the Bible, but is equally so to the solution of the problems of life. To solve the question a right comprehension of the nature of good and of the supposed nature of evil is primary; only from a right premise can correct conclusions be drawn.
Christ Jesus taught that God is fundamental causation, the ultimate premise or source of all that in fact exists. He taught that God is Spirit, and that God is the only good; hence, that Spirit is the only good. He taught that like produces like, for he said, "Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." The statement of the serpent and the teaching of Christ Jesus do not agree. Which should be followed? It is evident that there is nothing but the truth to know, for if we know the truth about anything we cannot even believe, much less know, any lie or false statement about it.
To illustrate: We may know that twice three is six, but can never know that twice three is seven. To know that twice three is six silences every misstatement about it. Again, Jesus said, "He [the devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him . . . for he is a liar, and the father of it." A lie is always a false statement about some fact, and by accepting a lie about anything, we lose the truth about it. A falsehood about a good man is that he is a bad man. A lie, to him that accepts it, reverses to him the nature and character of everything the lie touches; then, to know the truth about anything that a lie has touched and perverted is to correct this perverted false sense. If the statement 'of Jesus is true, that evil is a liar and a lie with no truth in it it must be a he or false statement about some fact or truth.
