In the sixteenth chapter of Mark's Gospel it is recorded that Jesus, at the close of his ministry, admonished his disciples, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." He concluded by enumerating certain signs which were to follow those who believed in his doctrine. He said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
If should be noted that Jesus' promise was not made to his disciples only, but to those who believed. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, uses this promise at the beginning of the chapter entitled "Christian Science Practice" in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," thus denoting that Jesus' teaching is authority for healing in divine Science. Moreover, the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures, as given by Mrs. Eddy, elucidates and amplifies the Master's words, giving a fuller significance to his promise. Take, for example, the statement, "They shall take up serpents." In the Glossary to Science and Health (p. 594) we find an interpretation of the word "serpent," which includes twelve false claims, each of which those who believe, understand the truth, are enabled to "take up," that is, prove harmless.
Mrs. Eddy gives, as one interpretation of "serpent," "the first lie of limitation." This definition, considered in connection with the narrative of the serpent in the third chapter of Genesis, throws much light on the problem of supply. According to the account of creation int the first chapter of Genesis, God gave to man, created in His image and likeness, everything needful for his well-being, including dominion over the whole earth. Moreover, everything which God in His infinite wisdom has created, is entirely good.
