HUMANITY has ever been seeking a savior. From the earliest times it has made an effort to effect its release from bondage and limitation. Its struggle has been unceasing and, for the most part, disappointing. Its failure to gain the long-sought goal of peace and satisfaction is an irresistible proof that it has not sought aright. Considering the constant failures of the past,—yea, also of the present,—the outlook from a material standpoint is dark indeed. It is here that Christian Science comes to us with its blessed benedictions, dispels our darkness, and reveals unto us a ray of sure deliverance.
The dictionary defines alchemy as "the medieval chemical science whose great object was to discover the universal cure for disease and means of indefinitely prolonging life." This, alchemy hoped to accomplish by the use of the juices of plants. It still claims to be the basis of some modern material methods of healing, although these no longer confine their researches, but have gone far afield into the mineral and animal kingdoms. Could anything better illustrate why the world is still searching for the "universal cure"? Is it not evident that if we are to obtain different results, we must turn our gaze in a different direction, and search in another realm? We know that everything in the material realm claims to be in a constant state of flux or change. So long as we continue to look to matter,—which by its very nature is unstable, unsatisfying, and constantly changing,—we cannot attain to that abiding health, harmony, and peace which heretofore we have so diligently sought in vain. We cannot find the eternal by looking to that which is impermanent, the abiding by depending on that which is ever varying, or gain harmony through that which constantly manifests discord and inharmony.
Here Christian Science comes to our rescue, transforms our thinking "by the alchemy of Spirit," to use Mrs. Eddy's words in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 422), and eradicates from our experience everything that is unlike good. Christian Science begins at the beginning, by showing us the true nature of God, the one and only cause. Even the most primitive peoples have had some concept of a cause or creator. Looking about them and beholding material things, they were led to the inevitable conclusion that there must be some power that had brought everything into being. The nature of this power, it is true, has been the subject of the most grotesque theories and vague conjectures. If there is any one thing for which the students of Christian Science are increasingly grateful, it is the fact that through it they have learned the character of true causation; for every other religion, philosophy, or theory in the world believes in a cause which produces both good and evil.
Christian Science, in both theory and practice, proves unequivocally that God is all good. In its practical application it clearly demonstrates that the All-perfect does not beget or perpetuate anything imperfect, incomplete, or which fails to express His own nature and character. The divine Being expresses Himself perfectly in existence and perpetuity. He cannot possibly impart anything to His creation that will cause it to cease to be. God, who is Love, manifests Himself in infinite loveliness, and can never be the origin of anything harmful, injurious, or deleterious to the objects of His love. He who is divine Mind could never lack intelligence enough to sustain and maintain His own ideas in their perfection and glory. He who is infinite power could not create another power capable of changing His beneficent plans and purposes. As this true understanding of "the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning," comes into consciousness, the shadows cast by false theology, false education, and so-called medical science are gradually dispelled; and there inevitably follow healing, redemption, and regeneration.
Another fallacy which Spirit's alchemy destroys is the belief that God and His creation, including man, are capable of being separated. Mrs. Eddy in Science and Health tells us (p. 336), "God, the divine Principle of man, and man in God's likeness are inseparable, harmonious, and eternal." Love can never be separated from the object of its love, for nothing unlovely can intervene between them. Mind can never be estranged from its idea, for the divine idea is the expression or manifestation of Mind; and, separated from its origin, the idea would have nothing to express. Spirit's image and likeness cannot be divorced from Spirit; otherwise, it would have no character or nature. This truth completely destroys one of the most pernicious teachings of false theology,—that man is now separated from God, but that through some mystical process, generally thought to be death, he is going to be ushered into God's presence, or united with God again. We can commune daily and hourly with our heavenly Father; and through right thinking and right living can realize more completely His abiding presence. God is never absent from His spiritual universe. Absence is unknown to ever-presence; and man therefore can never be beyond the boundary of God's ever-nearness.
Another great change wrought by Spirit's alchemy is a true and demonstrable understanding of God's law. The dictionary tells us that law is a rule of action prescribed by the supreme governing authority. When we learn in Science that good is the supreme governing power of the universe, we come to recognize that the only law there is, is the law of good. Applying this great truth in our practical experience, we are able to prove the nullity of all the so-called laws of evil. Their names may be legion; but however long they have been believed in, they are one and all made void by the law of Spirit. Inasmuch as they are not prescribed by the supreme governing authority, they have no power to enforce themselves, no real activity, no basis or support. Thus, there is no law of hate, for the universal law of Love is the only law. There is no law of sin that can bind men to evil habits, for the law of good always manifests itself in goodness. There is no law of disease, for the power which is supreme never creates or permits any weakness, inaction, discord, or impairment. There is no law of death, for the law of infinite Life forever sustains and maintains its entire creation in continuous and abiding harmony. As this divine understanding permeates and pervades our thinking, every claim of evil is silenced and destroyed; and man's natural heritage of peace, harmony, and holiness becomes the rule of life. "Thus Christian Science, by the alchemy of Spirit, destroys sin and death" (Science and Health, p. 422), and the glory of God and His perfect creation dawns on our awakened perception.
