Christian Science, as its name implies, stands for Christianity as well as Science. It can therefore be practised only from a Christian standpoint; that is, in accord with the spirit as well as the letter of the Master's teachings. There is some danger at this point, however, of the student going to extremes, and either magnifying his lack of the spirit until he becomes discouraged, or becoming so self-satisfied with his knowledge of the letter as to become spiritually stagnant. One should find the sane and happy middle ground, where the modesty of present achievement and the possibility of attaining perfect understanding are both recognized.
We frequently hear it said, and sometimes with a suspicious sense of its being a virtue, that one has the letter but not the spirit of Christian Science. The impression generally conveyed is that the spirit of Christian Science is something difficult to get. But is this true? If we have a correct knowledge of the letter, is there any just or logical reason why we should not have the spirit also? Where such a difficulty exists, it must necessarily lie with one's self, and is as great as we make it. The spirit of Christianity is a divine demand, and is within the reach of all, since God does not make it difficult for mankind to serve Him.
Mortals, of course, find it easier in their daily living to be intellectually righteous than practically so, because the former entails no cross-bearing; but those who believe it is easier to think and do the wrong things than the right things, must by that token have more faith in evil than in good. It is not because there is anything in goodness itself that opposes its adoption and practice. On the other hand, it might be said that with more faith in good than in evil, the case would naturally be reversed.
