In the Preface to "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" Mary Baker Eddy makes this strong statement (p. x): "The author has not compromised conscience to suit the general drift of thought, but has bluntly and honestly given the text of Truth. She has made no effort to embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail so infinite a theme."

What caught the attention of one student of Christian Science—one who had read the textbook through many times—was the fact that Mrs. Eddy did not attempt to "embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail" Truth's infinite theme.

"Why not?" comes the question. The answer is most revealing. First of all, for reasons of simplicity. Divine Truth is indeed the infinite theme of being. It not only defines reality, but is reality. To present this vast subject to spiritually darkened human sense with extensive elaboration or endless detail would be to bedazzle and confuse. But in the Scriptural-like directness of its text and treatment, Science and Health is able to be understood by every honest thought to whom the volume is dedicated.

Then there is the consideration of brevity. You may recall that the disciple John said of the marvelous ministry and works of Jesus, "If they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written." But he did not attempt this. Rather, the beloved disciple thereupon closed his Gospel.

"Our sufficiency is of God," said Paul, and this tersely conclusive statement holds good for the revelation of divine Truth in Christian Science. It has been proved many times by both practitioner and patient that within the Bible and the writings of Mrs. Eddy may be found the answer to every human problem, and the complete solution to the problem of being, which all must work out.

In spite of the fact that the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science did not even try to treat elaborately or in detail the great theme of divine Truth—the revelation of true, spiritual, harmonious being—nevertheless, we should remember that in our textbooks is the all-in-all of revealed spiritual law. Obediently measuring up to the requirements of daily study, prayer, and application of divine law to all our daily affairs, we shall find our lives expressing more and more harmony. Our Leader assures us of this on page 265 of the textbook: "This scientific sense of being, forsaking matter for Spirit, by no means suggests man's absorption into Deity and the loss of his identity, but confers upon man enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace."

May this not be why Mrs. Eddy did not "embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail" Truth's infinite theme? Does not the full meaning of Truth come to human consciousness best through demonstration? Does not this demonstration, reaching into all walks of life, under innumerable circumstances and every conceivable condition, constitute the very necessary embellishment, elaboration, and full detail of Truth's revelation? It does! And demonstration is the requirement of every Christian Scientist.

Truth demands that we use what we understand for our needs. The more we grasp and use, the higher we go. The higher we go in understanding, the more harmony, peace, and success we enjoy. No one should ever be tricked by error into believing that the higher our understanding of Truth, the more difficult and dark will be our experiences. The fact is, the broader our vision, the loftier our concepts, the more scientific our application of spiritual truth to human affairs, the happier we are, the more healthy and efficient.

There are many lessons we can learn from Mrs. Eddy's writing of Science and Health. Her teachings strongly and effectively denounce error's ways of holding mortals in bondage to a fretful, aimless, vain sense of life in matter, and yet there is nothing in them which error can refute or overthrow. By their very simplicity, directness, and soundness, they stand secure above any materialistic challenge. Truth, revealed by our textbooks, the Bible and Science and Health, is provably true. That is why we can have confidence that our understanding of Truth will prevail over error. By the grandeur, stateliness, and nobility of its message, it stands calm and serene, formidable and unopposed.

If that is the nature of revealed Truth, should not this be the status of thought enlightened by its teachings? It should and will be so, as we desire Truth alone, and work for an understanding of it day by day. Doing this, we shall be healed of such errors as talkativeness, superficiality, inanity, dullness, stupidity, and the roundabout processes of limited, human reasoning.

Thought receptive to Truth becomes enlightened, happy, innocent, spontaneous. It rises above evil by expelling it from consciousness. Spiritually inspired thought is never stolidly conventional, intellectually devious, self-opinionated. Divinely enlightened thought is discerning of human needs, poised, alert to good—always striving to express the allness of divine Love.

Humans are often easily satisfied—a friendly greeting, a light flash of wit, or a bit of constructive comment on some human event will render them happy. How much more we could give were we alert to their needs, or they willing to receive what we offer them! Like our Leader, we must not attempt to "embellish, elaborate, or treat in full detail" Truth's infinite theme with words. We must learn to reflect Truth first in our own consciousness. When the time comes for the flowering, the blossom will bud and burst into bloom. The work of a Christian Scientist must ever be, first of all, within his own mental realm.

A brief statement by Mary Baker Eddy verifies this thought (ibid., p. 367): "The infinite Truth of the Christ-cure has come to this age through a 'still, small voice,' through silent utterances and divine anointing which quicken and increase the beneficial effects of Christianity. I long to see the consummation of my hope, namely, the student's higher attainments in this line of light."

Copyright, 1944, by The Christian Science Publishing Society, One, Norway Street, Boston 15, Massachusetts. Entered at Boston post office as second-class matter. Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, authorized on July 11, 1918. Published every Saturday.