The Hebrew patriarch Abraham breached the wall of pagan mythology and proclaimed the revolutionary doctrine that there is but one true Deity, Almighty God. Centuries later, the fearless Moses, under God's directing, made another major contribution to the spiritual progress of mankind. Faced with the growing need of a stabilizing moral code for his confused and rebellious people, he was divinely led to proclaim what have been known down through the ages as the Ten Commandments.
The First Commandment (Ex. 20:3), "Thou shalt have no other gods before me," is of immediate interest to the serious student of Christian Science because this Science rests squarely upon it. The student does not go very far in his study of the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy before he comes face to face with this commandment. Slowly he begins to understand Mrs. Eddy's words: "The First Commandment is my favorite text. It demonstrates Christian Science" (Science and Health, p. 340). On the same page our Leader enlarges upon the thought when she writes, "The divine Principle of the First Commandment bases the Science of being, by which man demonstrates health, holiness, and life eternal."
With Scriptural authority, Science affirms that God is the divine Principle, Love. Thus scientific reasoning would suggest that the First Commandment may also be rendered, "Thou shalt have no other gods but divine Love." Unless we are aware that in reality we reflect divine Love and habitually express it, we shall continue to live in the darkness of nonintelligent materialism, helpless to free ourselves permanently from its pains and pleasures. But with infinite Love as our God, controlling our aims and affections, we can be satisfied that we are obeying the First Commandment.
