Article December 19, 1953 Issue

MAN'S SUBSTANCE IS SPIRITUAL

HILDA M. SPENCER

IN "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy writes (p. 468), "Substance is that which is eternal and incapable of discord and decay." And Paul in the eleventh chapter of his epistle to the Hebrews says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." What is this invisible, indestructible substance which is realized through faith and spiritual understanding?

Man embodies and continuously expresses the qualities of Mind, the substance of good, some of which are purity, integrity, justice, mercy, holiness, and love. Man's true selfhood or individuality includes God's qualities by reflection; they are unseen to physical sense, but eternally active and indestructible in Soul. In a very helpful article entitled "Angels" Mrs. Eddy says: "God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies. Never ask for to-morrow: it is enough that divine Love is an ever-present help; and if you wait, never doubting, you will have all you need every moment" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 307).

Angel thoughts flow uninterruptedly from God to mankind, sustaining, protecting, and directing those who listen in the ways of Truth; and the receptive individual finds them unfolding in consciousness. These truths seem rather intangible to the man in the street who needs food, clothing, and shelter, and who believes that these necessities may be obtained only through the medium of money. Matter seems to him the only real thing, and the things of Spirit seem impractical and negligible. That his conditions could be improved through spiritual concepts, which cannot be physically seen, heard, or handled, seems to him improbable if not impossible.

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