Abroad statement to the effect that we may know only good and believe only evil might provoke argument; but if it is said that we may know only what is true and believe only what is false, there would be no contradiction, as obviously we cannot know what is untrue.

A number of years ago, when methods of school instruction were considerably different from what they are at present, a small pupil was much confused over the seeming complexities of simple fractions. He was sure that one eighth was greater than one fourth, because he knew eight to be greater than four; and this mistaken concept was not corrected until his teacher cut an apple first into four parts and then into eight, when the error vanished in the light of understanding.

Educational development, in its generally accepted sense, is a correction of false beliefs, as well as the assimilation of new ideas. The student's progress from the multiplication table through the higher mathematics is a continuous mental adjustment and readjustment, as ignorance and mistaken ideas give place to the understanding of mathematical law.

Whatever one may think, all sincerely wish that only the good were true; and if this assumption is correct and everyone were in agreement with it, education would gradually eliminate everything unlike good from the student's consciousness; for evil could then only seem to exist as a mistake, and one false belief after another would disappear as the student learned more about the infinitude of good and, conversely, understood better the nothingness of evil.

Yet, the greatest spiritual instructor the world has ever known both taught and demonstrated the reality and supremacy of good and the unreality and impotence of evil. And this assumption, as a satisfactory basis for eliminating human discord and suffering, was handed down and proved practicable through not a few generations after Jesus' earthy career was ended.

Our Saviour not only proved what he taught, but assured all mankind in the words, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also." That is, He that understands my teaching may demonstrate its Principle as I do. Jesus never intimated that the teaching either originated in him or would end with him, but very definitely stated, "I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things;" also, "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak." Jesus knew God to be the Principle of his teaching, and so he taught others.

As the time drew near for the termination of Jesus' human experience, so beautifully referred to in the last chapters of John's Gospel, he said: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. ... Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid;" and, "When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me." The peace our Saviour demonstrated for mankind was this "Spirit of truth" in his consciousness, dispelling every falsity that presented itself; and only a like acceptance of Truth's teaching can comfort and give peace now, as it did then. What the great Teacher taught and proved true then can be learned and proved true now; for since Truth is infinite, its expression cannot be silenced, its light cannot be hidden, its evidence cannot be suppressed, its purpose cannot be frustrated. The truth about anything and everything is indestructible and eternal, for the Principle of truth is God.

It was nearly two thousand years after Jesus taught and demonstrated the ever-availability of good, that our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, discovered the divine Principle of his teaching, and presented it in such a way that all who care may understand and use it. The Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mrs. Eddy, not only confirms Jesus' teaching, but dissipates the illogical assumption that God sponsors both good and evil, by the irrefutable fact that the all-inclusive goodness of God can contain no evil or concept of evil. Our Leader clearly and concisely covers the entire ground with the statement on page 473 of Science and Health, "God is everywhere, and nothing apart from Him is present or has power." As this truth unfolds to us, we realize the wish that only the good might be true; and our education in Christian Science changes the belief in the inevitability of disease and death into the understanding of God's law of health and life. The omnipotent law of God's infinite goodness is now made practicable for all, and Jesus' promise that the Comforter would come has been fulfilled.

If we know that God is infinitely good, we are in a position to prove His goodness. Anything unlike good—fear, disease, poverty, sorrow, failure—is but a contradiction of His ever-presence; and we cannot know a lie. "We live, and move, and have our being" in God, good. Each one is His child; and His love for His children is so limitless, yet so infinitely perfect and complete, that the very hairs of our head "are all numbered."

Every problem has an answer, else it would not be a problem. Sometimes the hardest thing we have to do is to "stand still" and know that God is God. But if we are steadfast in our knowing, remembering always that there is no law but His law of good, the truth will break through the clouds of negation as certainly as sunshine obliterates darkness. Let us be unfailingly grateful to know that God does not cause suffering, and that the false belief which seemed to produce it is breaking down, and must eventually give place to the apprehension of good; for God's only activity is that of beneficent goodness.

However little, or however far, our education has progressed,—whether we are starting to learn the alphabet or have learned the rudiments of God's law of goodness,—the truth in the individual consciousness is turning and over-turning, is pulling down and clearing away everything unlike itself, making "straight in the desert a highway for our God." And this redemption from every false belief is going on each minute of the day and night. It is the ceaseless activity of the Christ in our consciousness, God's law of harmony revealing heaven on earth now.