Article September 20, 1919 Issue

It does not require any very exhaustive study of the New...

The Christian Science Monitor

It does not require any very exhaustive study of the New Testament to recognize that throughout its pages the endeavor is persistently made to instruct mankind as to the true nature of substance. In its pages Jesus is heard declaring, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." And Peter calls aloud: "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass with-ereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.' Similarly, also, it is Paul who announces to the Galatians in no uncertain language: "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other." In all such statements the truth is intimated that Spirit is substantial and that matter, or the flesh, which is Spirit's opposite, is insubstantial or unreal.

Now this teaching is fundamental. It lies at the very foundation of true Christian doctrine and demonstration. It was because of his understanding of the truth about substance that Christ Jesus performed every one of the miracles, as they are called, which proved so conclusively the divine nature of his mission. The Galilean Prophet had such a knowledge of God, the divine Principle of the universe, he knew so well the allness of Principle, that he was aware of the unreality of matter. He did not hold these facts merely as interesting theories. They were real and actual enough to be put to the test; and this he did, setting at naught the so-called laws of matter by stilling the tempest at sea, walking on the water, and raising the dead; indeed, every one of the healings he performed proved the power of Truth to annul so-called material law. To restore a paralyzed limb to normal activity was but the work of a moment to the man whose understanding of Principle was clear enough to enable him to perceive the total unreality of matter.

There is little doubt that the generality of mankind are often impressed by the fleetingness of human existence. No one can look upon the changing scenes of human life without recognizing that there is something, to say the least of it, insubstantial about all material phenomena. Change and decay seem to be the outstanding feature of everyday experience. And this has struck many so forcibly that, not having the explanation of the phenomenal and not possessing a knowledge of reality which only Christian Science is capable of giving, they have been driven to the brink of despair, even while trying to cling perhaps to some of the most cherished dogmas. It is absolutely essential to get down to bedrock fundamentals. There can be no "open vision" otherwise. Unless the truth about God, divine Principle, becomes known to men, they are bound to remain in doubt as to the meaning of the transient happenings of material sense, and liable to be driven down before them in their lawlessness.

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