THERE can be no greater test of true Christliness, as understood in Christian Science, than the ability to forgive and expunge from memory all injuries and wrongs received from others, whether these injuries and wrongs have been committed intentionally or unintentionally.
Christ Jesus made clear the meaning of forgiveness when, in response to Peter's question, "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" he said, "Until seventy times seven." This answer was followed by the parable of the unmerciful servant who was forgiven his debt to his master, but who in turn refused to forgive the person indebted to him. This refusal on his part to forgive as he had been forgiven caused his master to rebuke him. In his exposition of true forgiveness Jesus made plain that his followers were to forgive everyone always and under all circumstances if they would not themselves be unmerciful servants; for in the mortal dream all have erred, sinned against good, and all have need of forgiveness.
If any person can forgive himself his many derelictions, he should indeed be able to forgive his fellows their wanderings from the right path. Even those who may not have broken all or any of the Commandments, interpreted literally, could hardly face their spiritual interpretations which our loved Leader, Mrs. Eddy, gives in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 67) and not admit that they are but at the very beginning of their demonstration of obedience thereto. Here she says, in part: "'Thou shalt not steal;' that is, thou shalt not rob man of money, which is but trash, compared with his rights of mind and character. 'Thou shalt not kill; ' that is, thou shalt not strike at the eternal sense of Life with a malicious aim, but shalt know that by doing thus thine own sense of Life shall be forfeited. 'Thou shalt not bear false witness;' that is, thou shalt not utter a lie, either mentally or audibly, nor cause it to be thought."
