Article May 30, 1931 Issue

Emerging Gently

SUSAN F. CAMPBELL

In the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mary Baker Eddy has written (p. 485), "Emerge gently from matter into Spirit." In this book we find many clear instructions as to how we can best forge ahead in this greatest of all quests, emerging gently from matter into Spirit. In one place (p. 495) Mrs. Eddy puts the question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" And her answer begins with these words: "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit."

Occasionally the student is confronted with the argument that it is not necessary to be constantly studying the Bible and our Leader's works. But why not study as much as possible and put as much as possible into practice? Without thorough study, how is the student to grasp the teachings of Christian Science? To insure obedience to the rules laid down, it is essential that the letter should be pondered and thoroughly understood. Great numbers of people have learned how to order their lives happily and usefully, and have been healed of physical, moral, and financial difficulties, through diligently studying the writings of Mrs. Eddy, which have opened to them that great storehouse of spiritual truth, the Bible.

When Paul wrote to the Christians at Corinth, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life," he surely was not pleading with them to give up studying the inspired writings of Scripture, but was, doubtless, pointing out to them that, unless their lives bore witness to the inspired teachings, these teachings were nothing to them. Our Master constantly turned those who came to inquire of him, and also those who came to scoff, to the teachings of the Old Testament. How often we read in the Gospels that he supported his teaching with the words, "It is written," or, "What is written in the law?" or, again, "Search the scriptures"!

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