When the Christian Scientist speaks of demonstration, just what does he mean? This is a very natural question, and if put with an earnest and sincere desire to know the truth, it is entitled to an answer. A dictionary defines the word demonstration thus: "Proof, or such evidence of facts and arguments as precludes denial or reasonable doubt," and this is exactly what it means in the practice of Christian Science. Demonstration, then, means the application of the rule to some life problem and the finding of the right solution, giving positive proof of its efficacy. Applying the rule has absolutely nothing whatever to do with will power. It is most decidedly not outlining a certain result and then concentrating one's thought in the effort to bring this desired result to pass. This would be using the so-called power of human mind, and such a method is entirely foreign and antagonistic to Christian Science.

In reality every demonstration is an overcoming of some belief in a mortal selfhood, and not a looking for something specific to come to pass. Demonstrating the presence of health, for instance, is not the healing of a material body, but is the overcoming of all belief in materiality and the Scientific understanding of what constitutes both man and health. Since God, divine Mind, is the only creator, the logical reasoning is that the only true man there is was created by Him. Health is an attribute of Mind, and the suppositional opposite calling itself ill health does not exist in Mind or man. Therefore the demonstration of health is not the effort to rid one's self of the beliefs of pains or disease and a looking for their disappearance, but is the lifting of thought to the contemplation of what God is and of man made in His image and likeness. Thus dawns the realization that health is man's inherent right, and spontaneously the dream of ill health, pain, or disease vanishes. This is demonstration. Such reasonable evidence or proof has been given as to preclude any denial or reasonable doubt. The looker-on who does not understand Christian Science wonders how the change has come about. How have the discordant conditions so miraculously disappeared? Of course what has happened is that a belief of mortal selfhood has been overcome and replaced by the understanding of what constitutes real selfhood.

So it is with every demonstration. It seems so much easier to look outside of self for cause of the discords which seemingly beset us than honestly to examine what present themselves as our own thoughts and to acknowledge that right there is the responsibility for every wrong condition. Nevertheless, this is what every individual must sooner or later in humility and honesty be willing to concede. This is what John saw so clearly he wrote, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne." Overcoming is the keynote of every demonstration. Every selfish or sensual desire overcome leaves one with a clearer vision to discern the spiritual reality of good, manifesting itself as health, abundance, ability, intelligence, or any other quality of Mind. The student of Christian Science should manifest here and now every good and perfect gift, but this manifestation is the inevitable consequence of right thinking and not because he has outlined some particular good which he considers should come his way. We are reminded again of Jesus' instructions, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

On page 313 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mrs. Eddy says: "Jesus of Nazareth was the most scientific man that ever trod the globe. He plunged beneath the material surface of things, and found the spiritual cause." Before starting on his three years' ministry of healing and teaching, the Master went for forty days into the wilderness, where he spent his time in prayer and fasting. There he was tempted in every way just as we are. Appetite, possession, power, all these were presented to him by Satan, alias mortal mind, as desirable gifts within his reach. With his unparalleled understanding of Mind, it would have been easy for him to become a leader of men, to have great influence which he could turn to his own advantage, to become, in short, a ruler of this world. The lie might even insinuate that with his high ideals he would make a very much better ruler than Herod, for instance, or Cæsar. The wolf in sheep's clothing is an old story, and the lie always seeks to cover its falsity by presenting its argument in alluring terms. More especially must it be sugar-coated when it would seek to turn aside one who stands for righteousness. Jesus grappled with and overcame every suggestion of evil and came out of the experience so purified, so uplifted, and imbued with spiritual strength and vision that he was ready for the great work which was before him. The result of his communion with divine Mind and his rejection of the lie which would have tempted him from the high goal whereunto he was called, was seen in his subsequent ability to heal all manner of diseases, to raise the dead, walk on the water, and to prove supply wherever it was needed. He had so clearly seen the unreality of evil and the allness of Spirit, Mind, that the suggestion of a sick or sinful mortal was instantly replaced by the consciousness of man as idea; the claim of death with the understanding that Life is; a belief of lack by knowing the abundance and availability of spiritual supply. His demonstrations or miracles, marvels, as they are spoken of, were simply the natural sequence of his clear thinking, and Jesus was our example and inspiration to go and do likewise. He gave us his promise that we should do even greater works, but in order to do so, we, too, must be willing to overcome the belief of a mortal selfhood with its suggestions and temptations.

Let us not blame Christian Science if we fail to demonstrate our right to dominion. The rule is infallible, and if we are not proving that this is so, it is time to make a rigid examination of our thoughts and desires. Are we striving for those things which are eternal or are we after all just dallying with Christian Science? Like the rich young man of Jesus' time, are we seeing materiality and material possessions as substantial? When one is alert, love of ease in the flesh, love of luxury and the vanities that material wealth can buy cannot really obscure the vision, so that the things which are really worth while seem vague and intangible. It is well to remember that with love of ease in the flesh comes the fear of disease, with love of luxury the fear of losing the means with which to purchase it, and that the end of all these vanities is death. Mrs. Eddy writes in Science and Health (p. 368), "Deny the existence of matter, and you can destroy the belief in material conditions." This statement clinches the whole argument. The destroying, or overcoming, of material conditions and the replacement by the spiritual reality is all there is to any demonstration.