Through the discovery of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy has revealed to mankind two fundamental facts, which comprise the sum and substance of all christianly scientific truth and therefore are the basis of all correct metaphysical reasoning. The first of these facts is that God, Mind, is All-in-all. The second is that man is the idea or emanation of this Mind; hence its full and complete manifestation or representation. Obviously, then, man embodies, by reflection, all that God is and knows and possesses, and includes nothing underived from God. Great is the need of humanity to understand and demonstrate these truths, since they are essential for the healing of its pitiful ills, and, what is vastly more important, for its ultimate salvation from the belief of life, intelligence, and substance in matter. Thus only may we be ushered into the eternal bliss of spiritual existence. Is not this the attainment towards which we are all striving?

"Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy makes plain to the seeker for Truth in orderly, scientific elucidation these two facts, and states and restates them in countless forms. Thus it is seen that God's man, because of his divine sonship, is now and forever entitled to all true good, possesses it, and is conscious of its power. As a consequence he images forth in perfect health, happiness, and harmony his glorious relationship to his Father-Mother, God.

A dictionary gives one definition of the word "diagnosis" as "scientific determination; critical scrutiny or its resulting judgment." The word "analysis" is partly defined as "an examination of anything to distinguish its component parts, separately, or in their relation to the whole." The very nature of the teaching of Christian Science demands deep study and analysis, and the understanding gained thereby not only is all-revealing and satisfying, but becomes at once demonstrable, since its divine, unerring Principle is God. In "the scientific statement of being," found on page 468 of Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy gives a profound and concrete analysis of Truth as well as of error, and establishes the one as absolute and infinite, or ever existent, and the other as temporal and finite, never existent. This spiritual diagnosis or "scientific determination" has been the means of healing to countless sufferers of every disease known to the human mind. It will go on in its ameliorative and transforming mission until all false knowledge concerning God and man is destroyed.

In acquiring a workable understanding of Christian Science, one finds that the old axiom that "a straight line is the shortest distance between two points" is most applicable. This demands discarding any merely human opinion or knowledge and holding strictly to the new unfoldment and teaching gleaned from our textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health. Any line of reasoning not set forth or supported by these books is a hindrance to rapid progress.

The suggestion may come to one who is seeking his healing in Christian Science that a medical diagnosis might aid in the destruction of the error, or that one who before coming into Christian Science had some medical experience is better equipped for the handling of error than one who technically knows little about disease or the various medical laws involved. In Science and Health we read (p. 262): "We cannot fathom the nature and quality of God's creation by diving into the shallows of mortal belief. We must reverse our feeble flutterings—our efforts to find life and truth in matter—and rise above the testimony of the material senses, above the mortal to the immortal idea of God. These clearer, higher views inspire the Godlike man to reach the absolute centre and circumference of his being."

True, the Christian Scientist, and especially the practitioner, must be ever alert to the workings of animal magnetism. He must know how to counteract its suggestions and to silence its arguments. But always this must be done from the standpoint of absolute truth. Being awake to Truth's allness, he reverses every false law of erring mortal mind, taking great care to reject its subtle enticements to parley with it, to come to a point of agreement with it, or to engage in combat with it, for, as Paul says, "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal."

Well may we emulate the example of Nehemiah when, under God's direction, he was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. With great moral courage and persistence he refused his enemies' constant urgings to come down into Ono, their own unwholesome abiding place, to negotiate with them. His firm reply was, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" Nothing can be gained from conferring with error, and, if resorted to, much might have to be unlearned, as many sincere students have found. On the other hand, when we hold persistently to the truth as revealed in Christian Science, and push on, the finished work must eventually appear.

A young woman was laboring with the fear that she had a malignant growth. The physical symptoms pointed that way, and her fear was greatly increased by the recent passing on of a dear relative suffering from this disease. The practitioner worked earnestly to dispel her fears and to show her her true selfhood as the child of God, free from any false law of inheritance or infirmity. She was, however, so mesmerized that she decided to consult a physician, hoping that his diagnosis might prove her fears to be groundless, or, at least, as she put it, enable the practitioner to get a clearer concept of her need. While she was standing hesitantly outside the doctor's office and endeavoring to clear her thinking, it suddenly became plain to her that, regardless of what his diagnosis might be, either discouraging or reassuring, she could not, as a Christian Scientist, accept it as true, for she had already learned that any knowledge or verdict based upon matter and arrived at by means of the material senses was false and subject to change, whereas the practitioner's statement concerning her perfection and heritage was based upon absolute Science and therefore was unerring and permanent. She now determined to accept this as her true and only diagnosis. Almost at once the seemingly ever-present burden of fear and dread slipped from her, and she experienced an instantaneous healing of all physical distress and symptoms. This healing has proved permanent.

Jesus, the Way-shower, declared mortal mind to be "a liar," and the father of lies. No knowledge gained from this mind can be accurate and factual. Medical diagnosis, X rays, and clinical case history cannot establish the truth about God's man, seeing him not. Jesus taught his followers to look up to Spirit instead of down to matter for truth. He never inquired into matter or required from it any aid, consent to, or verification of the truth of his teachings. His followers, to be his followers indeed, must heed his requirements for successful emulation. One of these is, "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

As is symbolically depicted in Revelation, Christian Science -is gaining the victory over the seven last plagues comprising all error, and through the seven vials of the clear spiritual transparency of Truth, evil is seen, when poured upon the earth—that is, remanded to dust or nothingness—to lose all semblance to reality, and disappears.

"Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it."