In explaining the various steps which led up to her final discovery of Christian Science, Mrs. Eddy tells us in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 109). "I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration." In this concise statement may be found that which the human mind requires for its redemption and healing more, perhaps, than anything else, and also the means by which it may be attained.
A very slight knowledge of human affairs reveals the fact that absolute conclusions of any kind are conspicuous by their absence in all mortal thought processes, for nothing appears so strange to this mind as certainty. The human mind seems unable to escape from its ifs and buts, whichever way it turns. The belief in the power of evil attaches confusion doubt, and fear to every enterprise into which mortals enter, and, unless overshadowed by the truth, these constituents of thought harass the advancing footsteps of the individual endeavoring to progress. Through the consecrated thought of Mary Baker Eddy, the direct way of escape from these insidious beliefs has been made clear to-day. It will be observed that of the three spiritual activities "divine revelation" is mentioned first. When Mrs. Eddy arranged this order she undoubtedly realized that divine revelation was indispensable to a correct apprehension of metaphysics, for, as Paul says, "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." It is easily proved that no matter how perfect one's reasoning may be in itself, unless the fundamental proposition is correct the whole line of reasoning will be false. This further serves to illustrate the keen spiritual perception of our Leader, which was expressed in every detail of her life and work.
One dictionary meaning of the word revelation is, "Disclosure or manifestation of Himself or His will by God to man as through some wondrous act that awes and impresses, through oracular words, signs laws, et cetera." This belief regarding the nature of revelation, as given by scholastic theology, is dealt with by Mrs. Eddy on page 141 of Science and Health, where we read: "All revelation (such is the popular thought!) must come from the schools and along the line of scholarly and ecclesiastical descent, as kings are crowned from a royal dynasty. In healing the sick and sinning. Jesus elaborated the fact that the healing effect followed the understanding of the divine Principle and of the Christ-spirit which governed the corporeal Jesus. For this Principle there is no dynasty, no ecclesiastical monopoly. Its only crowned head is immortal sovereignty. Its only priest is the spiritualized man. The Bible declares that all believers are made 'kings and priests unto God.'"
