The book of Ezekiel, in all the picturesqueness of its Oriental symbolism, is especially interesting to the earnest student of Christian Science at the present time. In it are graphically portrayed the seething turmoil of materialism and the majestic triumph of the spiritual idea. In the time of the Babylonian captivity, we find Ezekiel, the priest and prophet of Israel, standing by the river Chebar, which, according to the meanings of proper names given in a Bible concordance, signifies "abundant." In other words, there, amid the desolation and agony of captivity, he realized the abundance of God; and filling his thought with the glory of the omnipotence of Truth, he beheld in the symbolic cherubim the chariot of God going straight forward throughout the earth; and the consciousness of that glory became the bow of promise to his awakened sense.
Webster's definition of "cherub" is very interesting: "A mysterious composite being, the winged footstool and chariot of the Almighty, described in Ezekiel i and x., sometimes explained figuratively as fullness of knowledge or a virtue or influence proceeding from God and descending upon the earth and all men." Ezekiel then fell upon his face, bowed in humility. When he was lifted up, "a roll of a book" was given him. Speaking of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" in "The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany" (p. 115), in the article entitled "The Christian Science Textbook," Mrs. Eddy says, "It has mounted thought on the swift and mighty chariot of divine Love, which to-day is circling the whole world;" and on page 127 she says, "We thank the Giver of all good for the marvellous speed of the chariot-wheels of Truth and for the steadfast, calm coherence in the ranks of Christian Science."
Having eaten the roll of the book, by which his thought was wakened to the workings of evil—animal magnetism,— the drama of mortal mind passed before his vision,—error rampant, sin ripe for destruction, idolatry, famine, pestilence; but, remember that he surveyed it from the standpoint of the omnipotence of God, and therefore, instead of dismay, there came to him the voice of divine Love saying, "Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, ... yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come,"— the sanctuary of that calm and close communion with God where the stony heart of mortal thinking is replaced by the heart of brotherly love, and whence the glory of God is discerned anew. At this point there came also the consciousness that no vision, no realization of Truth, can be lost or deferred; for God says, "What is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God... The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision."
