Science and Health With Key to The Scriptures

M >> Mary Baker Eddy >> Science and Health With Key to The Scriptures

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The universe of Spirit is peopled with spiritual beings,
265:1 and its government is divine Science. Man is the off-
spring, not of the lowest, but of the highest qualities of
265:3 Mind. Man understands spiritual existence
in proportion as his treasures of Truth and
Love are enlarged. Mortals must gravitate Godward,
265:6 their affections and aims grow spiritual, - they must near
the broader interpretations of being, and gain some proper
sense of the infinite, - in order that sin and mortality
265:9 may be put off.

This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for
Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity
265:12 and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man en-
larged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action,
a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent
265:15 peace.

Mortal birth and death

The senses represent birth as untimely and death as
irresistible, as if man were a weed growing apace or a
265:18 flower withered by the sun and nipped by
untimely frosts; but this is true only of a
mortal, not of a man in God's image and likeness. The
265:21 truth of being is perennial, and the error is unreal and
obsolete.

Blessings from pain

Who that has felt the loss of human peace has not gained
265:24 stronger desires for spiritual joy? The aspiration after
heavenly good comes even before we discover
what belongs to wisdom and Love. The loss
265:27 of earthly hopes and pleasures brightens the ascending
path of many a heart. The pains of sense quickly inform
us that the pleasures of sense are mortal and that joy is
265:30 spiritual.

Decapitation of error

The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away
false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections
266:1 from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good,
"rejoicing the heart." Such is the sword of
266:3 Science, with which Truth decapitates error,
materiality giving place to man's higher individuality and
destiny.

Uses of adversity

266:6 Would existence without personal friends be to you
a blank? Then the time will come when you will be
solitary, left without sympathy; but this
266:9 seeming vacuum is already filled with divine
Love. When this hour of development comes, even if
you cling to a sense of personal joys, spiritual Love will
266:12 force you to accept what best promotes your growth.
Friends will betray and enemies will slander, until the
lesson is sufficient to exalt you; for "man's extremity
266:15 is God's opportunity." The author has experienced the
foregoing prophecy and its blessings. Thus He teaches
mortals to lay down their fleshliness and gain spirituality.
266:18 This is done through self-abnegation. Universal Love
is the divine way in Christian Science.

The sinner makes his own hell by doing evil, and the
266:21 saint his own heaven by doing right. The opposite per-
secutions of material sense, aiding evil with evil, would
deceive the very elect.

Beatific presence

266:24 Mortals must follow Jesus' sayings and his demonstra-
tions, which dominate the flesh. Perfect and infinite
Mind enthroned is heaven. The evil beliefs
266:27 which originate in mortals are hell. Man is the
idea of Spirit; he reflects the beatific presence, illuming
the universe with light. Man is deathless, spiritual. He
266:30 is above sin or frailty. He does not cross the barriers
of time into the vast forever of Life, but he coexists with
God and the universe.

The infinitude of God

267:1 Every object in material thought will be destroyed, but
the spiritual idea, whose substance is in Mind, is eternal.
267:3 The offspring of God start not from matter
or ephemeral dust. They are in and of Spirit,
divine Mind, and so forever continue. God is one. The
267:6 allness of Deity is His oneness. Generically man is one,
and specifically man means all men.

It is generally conceded that God is Father, eternal, self-
267:9 created, infinite. If this is so, the forever Father must
have had children prior to Adam. The great I AM made
all "that was made." Hence man and the spiritual uni-
267:12 verse coexist with God.

Christian Scientists understand that, in a religious
sense, they have the same authority for the appellative
267:15 mother, as for that of brother and sister. Jesus said:
"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which
is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and
267:18 mother."

Waymarks to eternal Truth

When examined in the light of divine Science, mortals
present more than is detected upon the surface, since
267:21 inverted thoughts and erroneous beliefs must
be counterfeits of Truth. Thought is bor-
rowed from a higher source than matter, and
267:24 by reversal, errors serve as waymarks to the one Mind,
in which all error disappears in celestial Truth. The
robes of Spirit are "white and glistering," like the raiment
267:27 of Christ. Even in this world, therefore, "let thy gar-
ments be always white." "Blessed is the man that en-
dureth [overcometh] temptation: for when he is tried,
267:30 [proved faithful], he shall receive the crown of life,
which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."
(James i. 12.)

CHAPTER X - SCIENCE OF BEING

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon,
and our hands have handled, of the Word of life, . . .
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our
fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
- JOHN, First Epistle.

Here I stand. I can do no otherwise; so help me God! Amen!
- MARTIN LUTHER.

Materialistic challenge

268:1 In the material world, thought has brought to light
with great rapidity many useful wonders. With
268:3 like activity have thought's swift pinions been rising
towards the realm of the real, to the spiritual
cause of those lower things which give im-
268:6 pulse to inquiry. Belief in a material basis, from
which may be deduced all rationality, is slowly yielding
to the idea of a metaphysical basis, looking away from
268:9 matter to Mind as the cause of every effect. Material-
istic hypotheses challenge metaphysics to meet in final
combat. In this revolutionary period, like the shep-
268:12 herd-boy with his sling, woman goes forth to battle with
Goliath.

Confusion confounded

In this final struggle for supremacy, semi-metaphysi-
268:15 cal systems afford no substantial aid to scientific meta-
physics, for their arguments are based on
the false testimony of the material senses as
268:18 well as on the facts of Mind. These semi-metaphysical
269:1 systems are one and all pantheistic, and savor of Pan-
demonium, a house divided against itself.

269:3 From first to last the supposed coexistence of Mind
and matter and the mingling of good and evil have re-
sulted from the philosophy of the serpent. Jesus' demon-
269:6 strations sift the chaff from the wheat, and unfold the
unity and the reality of good, the unreality, the nothing-
ness, of evil.

Divine metaphysics

269:9 Human philosophy has made God manlike. Christian
Science makes man Godlike. The first is error; the latter
is truth. Metaphysics is above physics, and
269:12 matter does not enter into metaphysical prem-
ises or conclusions. The categories of metaphysics rest
on one basis, the divine Mind. Metaphysics resolves
269:15 things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense
for the ideas of Soul.

These ideas are perfectly real and tangible to spiritual
269:18 consciousness, and they have this, advantage over the ob-
jects and thoughts of material sense, - they are good and
eternal.

Biblical foundations

269:21 The testimony of the material senses is neither abso-
lute nor divine. I therefore plant myself unreservedly
on the teachings of Jesus, of his apostles, of
269:24 the prophets, and on the testimony of the
Science of Mind. Other foundations there are none.
All other systems - systems based wholly or partly on
269:27 knowledge gained through the material senses - are reeds
shaken by the wind, not houses built on the rock.

Rejected theories

The theories I combat are these: (1) that all is matter;
269:30 (2) that matter originates in Mind, and is as
real as Mind, possessing intelligence and life.
The first theory, that matter is everything, is quite as
270:1 reasonable as the second, that Mind and matter coexist
and cooperate. One only of the following statements can
270:3 be true: (1) that everything is matter; (2) that every-
thing is Mind. Which one is it?

Matter and Mind are opposites. One is contrary to
270:6 the other in its very nature and essence; hence both can-
not be real. If one is real, the other must be unreal. Only
by understanding that there is but one power, - not two
270:9 powers, matter and Mind, - are scientific and logical
conclusions reached. Few deny the hypothesis that in-
telligence, apart from man and matter, governs the uni-
270:12 verse; and it is generally admitted that this intelligence
is the eternal Mind or divine principle, Love.

Prophetic ignorance

The prophets of old looked for something higher than
270:15 the systems of their times; hence their fore-
sight of the new dispensation of Truth. But
they knew not what would be the precise nature of the
270:18 teaching and demonstration of God, divine Mind, in His
more infinite meanings, - the demonstration which was
to destroy sin, sickness, and death, establish the definition
270:21 of omnipotence, and maintain the Science of Spirit.

The pride of priesthood is the prince of this world. It
has nothing in Christ. Meekness and charity have divine
270:24 authority. Mortals think wickedly; consequently they
are wicked. They think sickly thoughts, and so become
sick. If sin makes sinners, Truth and Love alone can
270:27 unmake them. If a sense of disease produces suffering
and a sense of ease antidotes suffering, disease is mental,
not material. Hence the fact that the human mind alone
270:30 suffers, is sick, and that the divine Mind alone heals.

The life of Christ Jesus was not miraculous, but it was
indigenous to his spirituality, - the good soil wherein the
271:1 seed of Truth springs up and bears much fruit. Christ's
Christianity is the chain of scientific being reappearing
271:3 in all ages, maintaining its obvious correspondence with
the Scriptures and uniting all periods in the design of
God. Neither emasculation, illusion, nor insubordination
271:6 exists in divine Science.

Jesus instructed his disciples whereby to heal the sick
through Mind instead of matter. He knew that the phi-
271:9 losophy, Science, and proof of Christianity were in Truth,
casting out all inharmony.

Studious disciples

In Latin the word rendered /disciple/ signifies student;
271:12 and the word indicates that the power of healing was not
a supernatural gift to those learners, but the
result of their cultivated spiritual understand-
271:15 ing of the divine Science, which their Master demonstrated
by healing the sick and sinning. Hence the universal ap-
plication of his saying: "Neither pray I for these alone,
271:18 but for them also which shall believe on me [understand
me] through their word."

New Testament basis

Our Master said, "But the Comforter . . . shall
271:21 teach you all things." When the Science of Christianity
appears, it will lead you into all truth. The
Sermon on the Mount is the essence of this
271:24 Science, and the eternal life, not the death of Jesus, is
its outcome.

Modern evangel

Those, who are willing to leave their nets or to cast
271:27 them on the right side for Truth, have the opportunity
now, as aforetime, to learn and to practise
Christian healing. The Scriptures contain it.
271:30 The spiritual import of the Word imparts this power.
But, as Paul says, "How shall they hear without a
preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be
272:1 sent?" If sent, how shall they preach, convert, and heal
multitudes, except the people hear?

Spirituality of Scripture

272:3 The spiritual sense of truth must be gained before
Truth can be understood. This sense is assimilated only
as we are honest, unselfish, loving, and meek.
272:6 In the soil of an "honest and good heart" the
seed must be sown; else it beareth not much fruit, for the
swinish element in human nature uproots it. Jesus said:
272:9 "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures." The spiritual
sense of the Scriptures brings out the scientific sense, and
is the new tongue referred to in the last chapter of Mark's
272:12 Gospel.

Jesus' parable of "the sower" shows the care our
Master took not to impart to dull ears and gross hearts
272:15 the spiritual teachings which dulness and grossness could
not accept. Reading the thoughts of the people, he said:
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast
272:18 ye your pearls before swine."

Unspiritual contrasts

It is the spiritualization of thought and Christianization
of daily life, in contrast with the results of the ghastly farce
272:21 of material existence; it is chastity and purity,
in contrast with the downward tendencies
and earthward gravitation of sensualism and impurity,
272:24 which really attest the divine origin and operation of Chris-
tian Science. The triumphs of Christian Science are re-
corded in the destruction of error and evil, from which are
272:27 propagated the dismal beliefs of sin, sickness, and death.

God the Principle of all

The divine Principle of the universe must interpret the
universe. God is the divine Principle of all that repre-
272:30 sents Him and of all that really exists. Chris-
tian Science, as demonstrated by Jesus, alone
reveals the natural, divine Principle of Science.

273:1 Matter and its claims of sin, sickness, and death are
contrary to God, and cannot emanate from Him. There
273:3 is no /material/ truth. The physical senses can take no
cognizance of God and spiritual Truth. Human belief
has sought out many inventions, but not one of them
273:6 can solve the problem of being without the divine Prin-
ciple of divine Science. Deductions from material hy-
potheses are not scientific. They differ from real Science
273:9 because they are not based on the divine law.

Science /versus/ sense

Divine Science reverses the false testimony of the ma-
terial senses, and thus tears away the foun-
273:12 dations of error. Hence the enmity between
Science and the senses, and the impossibility
of attaining perfect understanding till the errors of sense
273:15 are eliminated.

The so-called laws of matter and of medical science have
never made mortals whole, harmonious, and immortal.
273:18 Man is harmonious when governed by Soul. Hence the
importance of understanding the truth of being, which
reveals the laws of spiritual existence.

Spiritual law the only law

273:21 God never ordained a material law to annul the spiritual
law. If there were such a material law, it would oppose
the supremacy of Spirit, God, and impugn the
273:24 wisdom of the creator. Jesus walked on the
waves, fed the multitude, healed the sick, and raised the
dead in direct opposition to material laws. His acts were
273:27 the demonstration of Science, overcoming the false claims
of material sense or law.

Material knowledge illusive

Science shows that material, conflicting mortal opin-
273:30 ions and beliefs emit the effects of error at all times, but
this atmosphere of mortal mind cannot be destructive to
morals and health when it is opposed promptly and per-
274:1 sistently by Christian Science. Truth and Love antidote
this mental miasma, and thus invigorate and sustain ex-
274:3 istence. Unnecessary knowledge gained from
the five senses is only temporal, - the concep-
tion of mortal mind, the offspring of sense, not
274:6 of Soul, Spirit, - and symbolizes all that is evil and
perishable. /Natural science/, as it is commonly called, is
not really natural nor scientific, because it is deduced from
274:9 the evidence of the material senses. Ideas, on the con-
trary, are born of Spirit, and are not mere inferences
drawn from material premises.

Five senses deceptive

274:12 The senses of Spirit abide in Love, and they demon-
strate Truth and Life. Hence Christianity and the Sci-
ence which expounds it are based on spiritual
274:15 understanding, and they supersede the so-
called laws of matter. Jesus demonstrated this great
verity. When what we erroneously term the five physical
274:18 senses are misdirected, they are simply the manifested
beliefs of mortal mind, which affirm that life, substance,
and intelligence are material, instead of spiritual. These
274:21 false beliefs and their products constitute the flesh, and
the flesh wars against Spirit.

Impossible partnership

Divine Science is absolute, and permits no half-way
274:24 position in learning its Principle and rule - establishing
it by demonstration. The conventional firm,
called matter and mind, God never formed.
274:27 Science and understanding, governed by the unerring and
eternal Mind, destroy the imaginary copartnership, matter
and mind, formed only to be destroyed in a manner and
274:30 at a period as yet unknown. This suppositional partner-
ship is already obsolete, for matter, examined in the light
of divine metaphysics, disappears.

Spirit the starting-point

275:1 Matter has no life to lose, and Spirit never dies. A
partnership of mind with matter would ignore omnipres-
275:3 ent and omnipotent Mind. This shows that
matter did not originate in God, Spirit, and is
not eternal. Therefore matter is neither substantial, living,
275:6 nor intelligent. The starting-point of divine Science is
that God, Spirit, is All-in-all, and that there is no other
might nor Mind, - that God is Love, and therefore He
275:9 is divine Principle.

Divine synonyms

To grasp the reality and order of being in its Science,
you must begin by reckoning God as the divine Principle
275:12 of all that really is. Spirit, Life, Truth, Love,
combine as one, - and are the Scriptural names
for God. All substance, intelligence, wisdom, being, im-
275:15 mortality, cause, and effect belong to God. These are
His attributes, the eternal manifestations of the infinite
divine Principle, Love. No wisdom is wise but His
275:18 wisdom; no truth is true, no love is lovely, no life is Life
but the divine; no good is, but the good God bestows.

The divine completeness

Divine metaphysics, as revealed to spiritual understand-
275:21 ing, shows clearly that all is Mind, and that Mind is
God, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience,
- that is, all power, all presence, all Science.
275:24 Hence all is in reality the manifestation of Mind.

Our material human theories are destitute of Science.
The true understanding of God is spiritual. It robs the
275:27 grave of victory. It destroys the false evidence that mis-
leads thought and points to other gods, or other so-called
powers, such as matter, disease, sin, and death, superior
275:30 or contrary to the one Spirit.

Truth, spiritually discerned, is scientifically understood.
It casts out error and heals the sick.

Universal brotherhood

276:1 Having one God, one Mind, unfolds the power that
heals the sick, and fulfils these sayings of Scripture, "I
276:3 am the Lord that healeth thee," and "I have
found a ransom." When the divine precepts
are understood, they unfold the foundation of fellowship,
276:6 in which one mind is not at war with another, but all have
one Spirit, God, one intelligent source, in accordance with
the Scriptural command: "Let this Mind be in you,
276:9 which was also in Christ Jesus." Man and his Maker
are correlated in divine Science, and real consciousness
is cognizant only of the things of God.

276:12 The realization that all inharmony is unreal brings
objects and thoughts into human view in their true light,
and presents them as beautiful and immortal. Harmony
276:15 in man is as real and immortal as in music. Discord is
unreal and mortal.

Perfection requisite

If God is admitted to be the only Mind and Life,
276:18 there ceases to be any opportunity for sin and death.
When we learn in Science how to be perfect
even as our Father in heaven is perfect,
276:21 thought is turned into new and healthy channels, -
towards the contemplation of things immortal and away
from materiality to the Principle of the universe, includ-
276:24 ing harmonious man.

Material beliefs and spiritual understanding never
mingle. The latter destroys the former. Discord is the
276:27 /nothingness/ named error. Harmony is the /somethingness/
named Truth.

Like evolving like

Nature and revelation inform us that like produces
276:30 like. Divine Science does not gather grapes
from thorns nor figs from thistles. Intelli-
gence never produces non-intelligence; but matter is
277:1 ever non-intelligent and therefore cannot spring from
intelligence. To all that is unlike unerring and eternal
277:3 Mind, this Mind saith, "Thou shalt surely die;" and else-
where the Scripture says that dust returns to dust. The
non-intelligent relapses into its own unreality. Matter
277:6 never produces mind. The immortal never produces the
mortal. Good cannot result in evil. As God Himself is
good and is Spirit, goodness and spirituality must be im-
277:9 mortal. Their opposites, evil and matter, are mortal
error, and error has no creator. If goodness and spirit-
uality are real, evil and materiality are unreal and can-
277:12 not be the outcome of an infinite God, good.

Natural history presents vegetables and animals as
preserving their original species, - like reproducing like.
277:15 A mineral is not produced by a vegetable nor the man
by the brute. In reproduction, the order of genus and
species is preserved throughout the entire round of nature.
277:18 This points to the spiritual truth and Science of being.
Error relies upon a reversal of this order, asserts that
Spirit produces matter and matter produces all the ills
277:21 of flesh, and therefore that good is the origin of evil.
These suppositions contradict even the order of material
so-called science.

Material error