ALL through the Scriptures we see one holy doctrine expounded, which reaches fulfilment and completion in the teachings of Christ Jesus and his apostles. St. Paul tells us that "every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness" (Rev. Ver.); and St. John says, in his second epistle, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."
It is very important to note that immediately after preaching the sermon on the mount, the doctrine of salvation through Truth and Love, Jesus put into practise what he had taught. The closing words of his great discourse are as follows: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: . . . and the floods came, and the winds blew, . . . and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock," and "the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes," for "his word was with power." Now after he had come down from the mount where he had been teaching this pure doctrine of the Christ, giving out the divine rule for the attainment of peace, health, salvation, and eternal life, Jesus' first act was to prove the truth of his doctrine by cleansing a leper, who acknowledged and worshiped the divinity, or Christ-power, before he was cleansed. After the purification was demonstrated, Jesus instructed him to say nothing about his healing, but to go and show himself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded; in other words, to conform to the laws and customs of the age, to pay due respect to the religious order with which he was yet identified.
His second act was to heal the sick servant of the centurion who came to him beseeching him to say only the word and the servant would be healed. This man was truly humble, recognizing his own unworthiness to receive one so pure and holy as Christ Jesus under his roof, and he had also the most perfect form of faith, believing in the absolute power of the divine word, as spoken by Jesus, to heal. He evidently realized that physical personality did not do the healing work, for he did not ask Jesus to be present in the flesh to accomplish the desired healing. This type of faith received the seal of the Master's approval, for he said, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." And to the centurion he said, "Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." It is also recorded that in the evening of the same day there were "brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick."
