THE illumination of the understanding which accompanies the study of Christian Science discloses the antipodal nature of Truth and error, of the true creation and the material counterfeit. Mrs. Eddy says: "Evil in the beginning claimed the power, wisdom, and utility of good; and every creation or idea of Spirit has its counterfeit in some matter belief. Every material belief hints the existence of spiritual reality; and if mortals are instructed in spiritual things, it will be seen that material belief, in all its manifestations, reversed, will be found the type and representative of verities priceless, eternal, and just at hand" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 60).
This spiritual education is proving to be an invaluable attainment to men and women of every nationality and every degree of mental accomplishment. Its chief service lies in the fact that it equips its students to discern more and more clearly the false pretenses of material belief, and thereby to evade and escape the disastrous effects which are supposed to accompany these beliefs. This scientific differentiation has been especially helpful in giving Christian Scientists a more correct understanding of law.
Metaphysically speaking, human law is a travesty on God's law, because it is based on the assumption that man is fundamentally disposed to violate the law, and as a consequence, penalties are provided in advance of the expected violation. This inculcates fear at the very outset of the human sense of law, and fear is a prolific producer of all evil effects. Montaigne makes pertinent comment on the shadowy origin of that power which is based on human laws, when in exposing the vanity of those who seek greatness in temporal government, he says : "The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws ; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority ; they have no other, and it well answers their purpose." The prevalent misconception of the real nature and source of law breeds a marked fatalism in the minds of mortals, and determines too often the conduct of men and of nations. The belief that "what is past and done, Clotho cannot weave again, nor Atropos recall," finds expression in the perilous doctrine of the law of heredity, and is responsible for much of the misery and disease of human existence.
