FOR centuries readers of the Bible have been impressed and in some instances inspired by the account, in the book of Acts, of Paul's speech to the Athenians in the Areopagus. After commending the evident devoutness of his auditors, Paul referred to an altar he had seen which bore this inscription, "TO THE UNKNOWN GOD;" and then he said, "Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you." In a few concise sentences the apostle then spoke of God as the one universal Father, the creator and governor of all, in whom, he said, "we live, and move, and have our being." Naturally Paul spoke also of Christ Jesus and the resurrection, because it was through the revelation of the Christ that he, as Saul, had become acquainted with God, and then had taken the name of Paul. When the Athenians "heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter."
Without question, the one among men of all time who knew God most truly and intimately was Christ Jesus. Although he spoke of God frequently as the Father, and again as Spirit, his fullest definition and most precise description of God were presented in his life and works. Therein Godlike qualities bespoke the Father so definitely and clearly that the Master could truly say, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." In his parables and in his practice Christ Jesus pointed to and proved the fact that God is divine Principle, expressing law, government, and justice; that He is Love, all providing and all protecting; that God is Life, imparting to His children harmonious, unlabored activity —life eternal. The Master's knowledge of these truths resulted in reversing and displacing negative and discordant human conditions, such as sin and sickness, limitation and lack, disease and death.
Because of the materialistic hypotheses and practices which had stolen into the Christian churches, the torch of spiritual understanding, lighted for the world by Christ Jesus and carried forward by his disciples, had fallen into disuse and its illumination had been sadly missed since the third century. Because men had lost the true concept of God, they not only had ceased depending upon spiritual power and means for healing but had come to regard disease, disaster, and death as sent of God or sanctioned by Him. Prior to the discovery of Christian Science and the publication of its textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, there were many signs indicating that men were worshiping an unknown God. This pure minded, consecrated, and brave woman, Mrs. Eddy, proclaimed to the world that the unknown God was made known through Christian Science, and she presented indubitable supporting proofs in her own healing works. The world is beginning to appreciate somewhat the marvelous and far reaching accomplishments of this brave woman who, through patient and prayerful endeavor, discovered the Science of Christianity, and then shared the revelation which had come to her so that others might know God as she knew Him, and might prove His power and law as she did.
