Referring to the First Commandment, which she calls her "favorite text," Mrs. Eddy, on page 340 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," states: "The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal." The imperative nature of, as well as the importance of obeying, this command, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," is recognized by Christian Scientists, who know that there is no real excuse for having other gods or for entertaining any wrong or confused sense of the nature and character of God. Christian Science brings the perception that God's laws can be intelligently understood and obeyed, and that the natural result of such obedience is harmony, inasmuch as there is a Science relating to God and His government, the laws of which are demonstrable.
In his desire to have his people understand the fundamental law of being as stated in the First Commandment, Moses gave full and explicit directions regarding what should be done and what should be avoided in order to observe this law as perfectly as was possible for the people of that age. He endeavored to show mortals just how to proceed in the true service of the living God, wherein are freedom, health, and harmony. A marvelous organizer and leader was Moses by reason of his love for and obedience to the law of God!
"The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ," writes John; which is to say, that in the intervening centuries the world had been sufficiently leavened by Truth to receive a higher expression and fuller demonstration of divine law. On the mount, or in an exalted stater "of consciousness similar to that in which Moses received the Commandments, Jesus delivered a sermon the text of which was the First Commandment. In his exposition of the law of God, he pointed out the blessings that accrue from giving obedience thereto. Those who reflect purity, meekness, patience in persecution, he knew were blessed, because obedient to God's demand to have no other thought, purpose, or aim save to reflect Godlike qualities.
