In "Rudimental Divine Science" (p. 1) Mrs. Eddy defines Christian Science as "the law of God, the law of good, interpreting and demonstrating the divine Principle and rule of universal harmony." Jesus said, "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." It logically follows that the law of God is the law of Spirit, or spiritual law, and this law understood and applied establishes or maintains the integrity of God's creation. demonstrates or brings to light reality, shows forth the glories of perfection,—the eternal verities, even as it is written: "God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good."

Jesus, through what are called miracles, but which were really expressions of the activity of spiritual law, brought to light the "kingdom of heaven" by restoring the sick to a state of harmony and the sinful to a cleansed sense of being. He distinctly declared that he came to fulfil the law; then he immediately proceeded to annul every so-called material law of limitation by walking on the water, feeding the multitude, healing the sick, and raising the dead, showing clearly that the law he fulfilled was the might and supremacy of Spirit. He also commanded his followers to do likewise; but there are many today who do not dare even to attempt to do as he did, and for the reason that the spiritual law of life is not understood.

It must be conceded that human beings are not automatons, and that every act must be preceded by a thinking or willing of the action. To do the works of Jesus one must think as he thought and will as he willed. He plainly said that he came to do the will of his Father, which is "good will to men." His acts were in attestation of his obedience to God's will or the spiritual law; no other inference can be drawn. Christian Science follows in Jesus' steps in demonstration,—the way he did and taught his disciples to do,—and thus brings to light the scientific action of the divine Mind which actuated his every word and deed, for he plainly declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

The basic teaching of Christian Science is that "all is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all" (Science and Health, p. 468). God is Spirit, infinite Mind; therefore all manifestation must express the nature and quality of Spirit. Man, the child of God, must of necessity express Godlike qualities; like cause, like effect. Since God is "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever," His law must be fixed, immutable, eternal, and unchangeable; it cannot be broken. This fact is our highest hope, our surety, our refuge. The presence and power of God's law, its ceaseless and intelligent activity and its beneficent and harmonious results, are available at all times and under all circumstances for the supply of man's needs. The recognition of this fact brings confidence and strength. Simply to rest in this knowledge, however, is not sufficient. Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 69) that "the Principle of Christian Science is divine. Its rule is that man shall utilize the divine power,"—shall know the divine law and love it at all times and under all circumstances, yielding loving obedience to its government. The penalties which mortal sense incurs are not because of the law, but without it, or apart from it. Mortal mind is lawless, godless, and it is self-punished until it yields to law and government.

The very foundation of law is love, and Love governs all in love. The very highest work of Love is to release the sinner from his sins. He who refuses to separate himself from sin, identifies himself with it, places himself under the sentence pronounced against sin, "Thou shalt surely die." Having suffered sufficiently to learn to loathe sin, the love of Love, of Truth, in his heart begins its redemptive work; then God's law is apprehended and its demonstration begun. When sinning human sense gives up its sin, the consciousness of sinless sonship begins to dawn. Man is not under a law of ignorance, superstition, fear, or lust, the beliefs of material existence, and when we drop these unholy beliefs the glorious revelations of God's law are seen, acknowledged, and utilized. The apostle James says, "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." This brings us into a state of intelligent obedience to law.

The mixture of good and evil in so-called law, the confusing lack of a definite rule of action in the affairs of men, the baffling sense of inability ever to reach anything like fundamental truth in human theories, philosophies, or creeds, is entirely escaped from in Christian Science, for however faintly a student may be able to demonstrate its grand truths, he has found a fixed Principle and rule, and a few practical results assure him that he has discovered something dependable, that he has touched that divine law which is universal, immutable, eternal; and a great joy takes the place of doubt and fear, as he realizes that henceforth and forevermore it rests entirely with him to work out his salvation, for it is God that worketh with him.

Thus to discern spiritual law, its just demands on mankind, and the necessity of conforming to its requirements, is to become a Christian Scientist; for the student sees, although it be "through a glass, darkly," that inestimable good must result therefrom, and his eternal salvation becomes a present possibility. Humility and love take the place of pride and selfishness; while confidence in God, good, is awakened. This assurance once gained, it becomes for him the rock of ages. He has come to know that God's law, understood and applied, removes disease, all sense of separation from God, and destroys sin, ignorance of or indifference to Love. His content, however, is not a dreamy exaltation or mesmeric dependence upon faith in God's law as power. Paul said, "Faith without works is dead;" and this brings us to a most important step for the student, viz., the application of God's law to human affairs. Materialistic beliefs would hinder our progress from sense to Soul did not an intelligent application of the law of Love destroy these false claims to law and power and make manifest the supremacy of Love, thus producing harmony.

It is true that under the deific law, as Mrs. Eddy has pointed out, "supply invariably meets demand" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 45), but a necessary factor in the fulfilment of the law is that the demand must be made. Jesus said, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." "Joy may be full"—think of it! The joy of knowing the full meaning of this law of supply and demand would be priceless, fully to realize that, no matter what the need, it is already met. "Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." For one who has learned to trust this law implicitly, the belief in lack or limitation of any kind, be it spiritual, mental, moral, physical, or financial, is forever banished.

In the first Psalm we are shown that prosperity is the result of obedience to God's law; the result of activity, for activity is the first demand of spiritual law. As the unfoldment of divine law goes on in consciousness, the student learns that no spurious laws of limitation can obstruct, obscure, frustrate, or hinder the law of infinite supply which says, "Ask, and ye shall receive." And since the law of like effect from like cause is absolutely without variation, and thought is actively engaged in declaring Truth, the outward condition continues ever to improve.

The special application of the spiritual law which may most interest the student, because of his own and the world's sore need, is its application to the cure of disease, making of none effect the so-called laws of decay and death. The belief that matter is a manifestation of Spirit is a reversal of the truth, and every demonstration of Christian Science Mind-healing proves the falsity of so-called material law. The pracitioner gives no heed to the beliefs about a matter body, but, reversing this matter testimony, calls into active realization the qualities of Spirit, or Mind. He knows that belief in the processes of evil, belief in a tortured sense of existence apart from God, cannot hinder the power and effect of God's law; that an error of belief has not the power of Truth, while God's word, the expression of divine law, can and does establish harmony, even as it is said: "He spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast." "He sent his word, and healed them."

So, too, the beliefs of poison, of the sting of the serpent, of the deadly power of germs, bacteria, etc., which has permeated all human thinking, become null and void through the applied law of Love, which eliminates the effects of false belief, the bitterness of resentment, the canker of hate. Love is indeed the fulfilling of the law,—love for God, and love for man, God's likeness; and as the student apprehends this great truth and becomes more fully alive to his privileges, he joyfully goes forth to help establish the kingdom of God on earth, as it is in heaven.