The aim of all true Christians is to follow the teachings and example of Christ Jesus in daily living. His life was the pattern to which all, sooner or later, must conform. Consequently his words, as recorded in the Gospels, are the most precious sayings in the world, for they represent the wisdom of one who in every way expressed his sonship with God.

No admonition uttered by Christ Jesus is more definite than this: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." There has been much misapprehension of these words, but the teachings of Christian Science have made the interpretation so plain that a new joy is found in applying and using the Master's counsel in daily living, and with such obedience come rich results.

In considering this sentence we should remember Jesus' teaching, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing." He attached no importance to the mere abstention from material things, for he knew that men could pray in public and fast from the things of the flesh, and yet be sinful and unrepentant. Something more than formal worship is required of his followers, and exactly what this requirement is, has been clearly pointed out by Mary Baker Eddy.

Our Leader interprets the Bible from a purely spiritual standpoint, and it is through this correct interpretation that those who practice Christian Science are in some measure enabled to do the works our Master did, in healing the sick and destroying discord of every type.

Mrs. Eddy based her teachings on the premises that God is the only Mind, that He is infinite, omnipresent good, and that man is made in His image and likeness. This, of course, is entirely in accord with the inspired statements in the first chapter of Genesis. Jesus had also stated plainly that God is Spirit. Therefore, man in His image and likeness must be, and is, spiritual, perfect, and immortal. This is the glorious truth about God's man, as elucidated in the Scriptures and illumined by the teachings of Christian Science in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy.

On page 259 this textbook sets forth the truth in this helpful fashion: "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." We are thus enabled to realize that whatever seems to be inharmonious or discordant is not of God, good. Therefore, as He is the only cause and creator, such discord is a fictitious or untrue sense of things. That this statement is based on positive, demonstrable fact is perceived when, by denying the verity or reality of error, and affirming the truth about the case, we find we can heal disease and destroy erroneous and imperfect conditions.

True prayer in Christian Science is the realization of the ever-presence of God, and is, of necessity, the denial of what seems to be erroneous, because discords have no place in absolute Truth, and God's man cannot be touched by them.

Here, then, we have the true interpretation of those words uttered by Jesus as quoted in the beginning of this article. Those who would follow the Christ, God's perfect, spiritual idea, must cling to that ideal and thus gradually displace from thought and word and action every suggestion of the imperfect as belonging to God's man. This is the proper denial—the continual spiritual thinking which is always denying evil, declaring that it is illusion, having no power or place in God's happy, lovely kingdom. By this means we are privileged to be witnesses to the good which alone is real.

"Perfect God and perfect man"—that is the watchword; and whatever is unlike this concept of true being can be eliminated as we follow the teachings of our Master. Right thinking is externalized in health and in all other harmonious conditions. Therefore, it behooves us to use every moment in which to express perfect, Godlike qualities.

These qualities are expressed in the real, spiritual selfhood, which is governed by God alone, and which is unaware of sin, sickness, or death. The immediate effects of the application of these truths to our daily living are experienced in improved health, a happy home, good business relationships, and other desirable and right things. This teaching is expressed pointedly on page 261 of Science and Health, thus: "Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts."

The earnest effort to think and act in the spiritually scientific and correct manner may not always be easy. It means following the straight and narrow way of Truth instead of the broad highway along which the world seems to travel. It means bearing the cross which Mrs. Eddy has described as "the world's hatred of Truth and Love" (Science and Health, p. 50). And, as we follow the upward path, we have the assurance that it is the sure way to reach those heights of spiritual understanding where all discord melts in the sunshine of God's presence.