Christian Science is as a search-light turned upon individual qualities, motives, and practices. It reveals clearly to all who "having eyes, see," that, broadly speaking, there are two bases of endeavor among men, the spiritual and the material. The individual's life purpose is to help his fellow-men out of distressing conditions, or it is to gratify self. It is born of God, and is therefore real and abiding, or it is a mere dream of evil, that has its day before the true individuality of man is manifested. Christian Science discloses that the spiritual basis is simply obedience to the teachings of Christianity in the most practical sense. It is the overcoming of the material, the false, and the finite, and the consequent approach to the standard of character found in Christ Jesus, who displayed at once the most profound humility and the most mighty power for good. It discloses furthermore that a material basis of thought is un-Christian.
Every word and act of the man of affairs, whether he sell merchandise or make law, should stand the test of Christian requirement, and if they do not, he becomes responsible for just so much wrong sense which must be righted. Materiality displays many charms and makes alluring promises, and, in ignorance of a better course, many men find themselves competing with others for distinction, riches, personal power, or some other object that can serve no purpose in the working out of their salvation. Whatever may be their circumstances, in working from a material basis they are sure eventually to reap dissatisfaction and disappointment.
The spiritual exists eternally in perfect harmony and repose; and the process of seeking is only a removing of thought fetters through willingness to leave the old, to learn the new, and to bear any cross that may be encountered, for Truth's sake. To be a Christian Scientist is to be a Christian who has found the light of God's day, who has perceived that there is no necessity for suffering and death, since it is possible to purge thought from material beliefs, impulses, and fears, day by day, until these procurers of discord and mortality are all cast out, so that mentality is wholly dominated by the true and good. Then God, good, is recognized as All in all and the Christ-idea is a near and dear reality.
