Jesus in his last discourse with his disciples made clear to them that they were not to be orphaned by his going away. He assured them that the unseen agency for blessing would continue to bear witness to him and would bring to remembrance his teachings, and this agency he spoke of as the Comforter, that is, the helper, the very "Spirit of truth" issuing from the Father. The definition of Holy Ghost given in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 588), is interesting in this connection, if we note the word development: "Divine Science; the development of eternal Life, Truth, and Love."
What may we expect in this development? The word means liberation from that which infolds or envelops, that which entangles or causes confusion. It also means gradual unfoldment, as when the bud swells, and bursting the hard inclosure opens out into bloom as the perfect flower. The words of Jesus are most clear in regard to the change to be wrought by the presence of the Comforter, for he said: "When he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." The meaning would be clearer if the word convince had been the translation instead of reprove, because it was to convict the world and convince men of sin, righteousness, and judgment that this Spirit of truth was to come.
There are many definitions of sin, but they all infer some defiance of divine law. We may find a clear understanding in the words of Jesus in answer to those who asked what they should do in order to work the works of God. "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The Holy Ghost, then, was to convince men of the basic error of unbelief. Disbelieving the witness borne by Christ Jesus regarding the one who sent him, shuts out the denier from knowing what Christ Jesus was as Way-shower, friend, revelator of Principle, and demonstrator of Love. It precludes knowledge of the righteousness manifested in the inseparable unity of Father and Son, wherein is promise of salvation through atonement for all mankind as they awake, arise from the deadness of unbelief, and accept the light of God.
Furthermore, the Spirit of truth, the divine helper, develops life through bringing to judgment the prince of this world. When Christianity arrived this false belief was then judged because of the fact of light coming into the world. The dethronement of this potentate requires individual demonstration. Isaiah's words help us to-day as much as when they were first written: "As for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood." Hosea describes the reign of a prince of this world, saying: "The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land;" and he further describes the courtiers, saying: "They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies." In this day, however, light has come into the world, and truth has been demonstrated in healing of the sick; and this manifests God who is good, who is light, in whom is no darkness. Is it not evident then, as John declares, that, "if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth"?
What is the world chemicalization but the disturbance caused by the urgency of Truth? Why should one fear either the process or the outcome? Of one who is consciously on the side of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, it may always be said, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help ... which made heaven, and earth ... which keepeth truth for ever."
Let us understand the case, for it is quite simple. The prophet Hosea brings the divine message, saying, "O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help." This help must, of course, be revealed to us along the line of truth. On page 127 of Science and Health Mrs. Eddy says: "Science is an emanation of divine Mind, and is alone able to interpret God aright. It has a spiritual, and not a material origin. It is a divine utterance,—the Comforter which leadeth into all truth." Speaking about the work of Jesus, she says (p. 332): "Jesus demonstrated Christ; he proved that Christ is the divine idea of God—the Holy Ghost, or Comforter, revealing the divine Principle, Love, and leading into all truth." Here, then, is "truth"— Science, Principle—and opposed to it the kingdom of those who trust in lies, seeking darkness to cover their evil deeds, and expecting falsity and deceit to save them. The simplicity of Science appears, and adverse to it we see the duplicity, deception, and confusion of many evil beliefs like the tares twining among the wheat.
Everywhere in the world those striving to do good will come to the light, that their truth, righteousness, may be proved, but the individual who holds to any sort of a lie will resist the helper leading to the truth. Such a one is mesmerized to believe his lie, whether it be a disease, a hatred, a prejudice, a false dogma, a loyalty to another potentate than good. If he fears sickness for himself, he insists on its reality for others, and the more he studies materiality, the more he is entangled. If he cultivates hate he builds a wall to shut out fellowship and kindness and peace. If he believes in a traditional deity, he does not understand divine Love who is nigh at hand to bless him. If he worships with obedience a prince of this world, then he excludes himself from the service of the Christ of God. What is needed is development out of his entanglement, or a disenvelopment from the mesmerism of darkness, so that, as with a plant brought into sunlight, there may be the development or unfolding of true life and righteous character.
But what of the process by which convincing shall be accomplished? Are we not in that process at present? There are accepted philosophies which deny everything for which Christ Jesus lived and worked, everything for which he accomplished his resurrection and ascension. These philosophies must be judged. Isaiah declared the message of God: "Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. ... Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand." There are those who put their trust "in reeking tube and iron shard," and on their own terms they are judged by what they believe in, until through suffering comes humility. The stubborn human "will to power" must bow to the ever living God, and the declaration be made, "Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: for true and righteous are his judgments." There need be no clearer statement made regarding the operation of truth than in Mrs. Eddy's Message for 1901, where she says (p. 9): "The evil in human nature foams at the touch of good; it crieth out, 'Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, ...? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.' The Holy Spirit takes of the things of God and showeth them unto the creature; and these things being spiritual, they disturb the carnal and destroy it; they are revolutionary, reformatory, and —now, as aforetime—they cast out evils and heal the sick."
