My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.— John, 716, 17.
In Science and Health, page 591, its author defines a miracle as a manifestation of divine law —and as being, therefore, both natural and scientific. It is certainly a remarkable fact, that the wisdom of this world has been engaged, ever since the time of Jesus, in the endeavor to explain his wonderful words, while practically no effort has been made, until now, to explain his wonderful works and learn the method by which they were accomplished. As his works were done to prove the truth of his doctrine, that God is Love and the only power, it must follow that we can best learn the spiritual meaning of Truth and Love by studying the words and works of Jesus, and ascertaining his method of utilizing the truth in the healing of the sick. Our Leader, Mrs. Eddy, was the first to take up and pursue to a successful conclusion this study. Obedience to God's will has enabled her to "know of the doctrine," and how to apply it, and to give to the world the result of her prayerful endeavor. Many of the works of Jesus have been called miracles, and they are generally understood to be works done in contravention of natural law. Christian Science teaches that a miracle fulfils God's law, and those who are engaged in the work of healing in Christian Science know that their prayers are answered in the most natural and harmonious way, when they "ask aright," although the fulfilment of God's law may seem altogether strange and inexplicable to an outsider.
The Lord's Prayer expressed Jesus' idea of the way to make his Father's "doctrine" operative, but his beneficent purpose has not been understood, and, therefore, this prayer has not been prayed aright. We pray, "Thy will be done," and if we rise to the understanding of the all-inclusive spiritual meaning and power of this declaration, we shall have asked aright, for this understanding is the vestibule of perfect prayer, opening wide the portals of heaven. We have been taught to pray "Thy will be done" in a spirit of sorrowful resignation, instead of in a spirit of joyous, authoritative declaration of the understanding that His perfect will must be done and that nothing can prevent it, for His will is the only will there is. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine," and it follows that if we know the doctrine, we shall be able to do His will, His works, and be truly about our Father's business. God's will is the spiritual and scientific law which becomes operative in all so-called miracles. In truth, God's law is the only law, and God's will is always done, and the results are always good, always perfect. To understand the ever-presence and all-power of this law, and to come into touch with it by purity of desire and by claiming no will of our own, is to become God's minister in the doing of that which the world calls miraculous, but which is really a fulfilling of the law. It was Jesus' love of God, good, and knowledge of spiritual law and its mode of operation, that enabled him to speak the words, do the works, and live the life whereby he fulfilled the prophecy, "His name shall be called Wonderful." From a material standpoint his words and works were very wonderful, but from God's viewpoint they were the natural expression and demonstration of His good will. Divine Love doeth the works, and there is nothing so beautiful and wonderful as its manifestation.
