On page 39 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," Mrs. Eddy has drawn the attention of all who will heed to both the time and the way to gain freedom from all evil. She says: "Now is the time for so-called material pains and material pleasures to pass away, for both are unreal, because impossible in Science. To break this earthly spell, mortals must get the true idea and divine Principle of all that really exists and governs the universe harmoniously."
How many times we have heard the words, "The spell has been broken," particularly in connection with surcease from pain, sorrow, or trouble, implying that the dread power which had imposed the bondage to evil was destroyed. Then, as the evil influence was dispelled, the inharmonious conditions were replaced with harmony and well-being. But what is this mystic power which seems to hold mortals in its rigid grasp, bringing upon them every woe that "flesh is heir to"? When the cry goes up from a heart heavy with doubt and fear, to know the "why" of its anguish, are we willing to listen to the voice of Truth telling us that the cause of all inharmony is the error of believing in an existence apart from God, of believing that life and intelligence are in matter, in the wake of which follows the belief of sensation in matter, with its accompanying claims of pain and pleasure therein?
Mrs. Eddy makes it very clear that the cause of "this earthly spell" is merely a belief; for she speaks of the "so-called material pains and material pleasures," and further states that these pains and pleasures are unreal and impossible in Science. Now, Science is the knowledge of divine facts; and the question might be asked, Why are not the pains and pleasures of matter facts? It would be just as reasonable to ask regarding an error in addition, Why is not the answer correct? It is universally known and accepted that there is an infallible law governing the mathematical process of addition; and any inconvenience, embarrassment, or lack occasioned by a mistake in adding a column of figures is the result of either ignorance, haste, or indifference. Just so long as the belief is indulged that the sum is correct, when it is wrong, the resultant inharmony will seem to be a fact. It only remains to apply the law governing addition to bring about the true result. If the one doing the sum has made a mistake because of ignorance, and has just guessed at the answer, or perhaps relied on some other person's calculation, he must necessarily come to a realization of his lack of knowledge, and correct this mental state by a careful study of the rules governing the problem, before he can add correctly as small a sum as two and two. He may even, in his ignorance, have guessed the correct answer, but this could give him no assurance that he knew how to add. Only a complete understanding of the rule of addition could bring him the confidence which would enable him to attempt adding any column of figures that might be given him, however large the figures or however long the column.
