A STUDY of the relation which exists between revelation and inspiration is of profound interest to the Christian Scientist. The dictionaries tell us that revelation is "the act of revealing or communicating divine truth, especially by divine agency or supernatural means." Trench says that "God's revelation of Himself is a drawing back of the veil or curtain which concealed Him from men." From the Christian Science standpoint this would mean the removal of material sense, which of course would shut out the recognition of God, who is Spirit. In Science and Health (p. 141) Mrs. Eddy points out the fallacy of the belief that revelation "must come from the schools and along the line of scholarly and ecclesiastical descent;" and her statements are fully sustained by the facts of human illumination throughout the centuries,—the greater number of those through whom God has spoken to mankind being outside of any priestly order.
Here it is well to ponder the fact that the revelation of divine Truth is of such supreme value that it may rightly be regarded as the source of all true progress, for without a knowledge of the creator and His laws the race would inevitably drift into chaos and darkness. Now revelation implies inspiration, which is defined as a "supernatural divine influence exerted upon the sacred teachers and writers by the Spirit of God." If God gives, man must receive, else were the gift unrecognized and of no value to those in need; but happily there have been those throughout the ages who had eyes and ears for the divine message, who were ready to receive when the Spirit was poured out from on high, and to these the world owes what it can never pay, though it is slowly awakening to admit the debt. It is absolutely certain that a window admits more light than does a stone wall, and it is no less certain that one must have "lost much materiality—much error—in order to become a better transparency for Truth" (Ibid., p. 295),— a fitting channel for inspiration. It is true that we ourselves need some measure of inspiration in order to appreciate inspired thought, but the promise is that God will pour out His Spirit upon "all flesh," and, as in the days of the apostles, this outpouring will be signalized by the overcoming of sin, disease, and death. It cannot be otherwise, for to this end Christ Jesus wrought and taught.
To this age has come a wonderful revelation of God, Spirit, and of spiritual law, and it reaches humanity through the inspired utterances of the one whose spirituality fitted her to receive it and give it forth to all who were willing to accept the truth. Nor has the proof of true inspiration been lacking, for, as of old, the healing has come which proves the presence of the Holy Ghost. Not only have unnumbered thousands been healed in Christian Science, but in almost every instance a quickened sense of inspiration has come through the study of our revered Leader's writings, which has opened up the treasures of the Holy Scriptures and made them glow with the living power which heals sickness and destroys sin in every age. The textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," makes known to the world the Principle and rules of divine Science, while Mrs. Eddy's other writings show the application of these to all human problems, individual and collective. It is true that some of the articles contain strong meat for the more advanced students, but there is no lack of pure unadulterated milk for the babes.
