MARY BAKER EDDY truly was standing on the mount, listening with the ears of spiritual understanding and seeing with the eyes of spiritual discernment, when was revealed to her that transcendent vision of Church which she has embodied in the definition to be found on of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures": page 583 "Church. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle. The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the. demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick."
If we have seen the Church as a mere edifice of brick and stone, wherein to meet for what is commonly called divine service, we have failed of the vision. If we have seen it as a merely moral organization, bound together by human creed and dogma, we have but glimpsed its outmost wall. If the Church is really the structure wherein men worship God, wherein are sung hymns of love and praise, wherein God's Word is preached, wherein communion with Truth and Love is observed, the structure transcends human thinking! For men worship God in daily deeds, or deny Him in the same. Men chant their hymns of love and praise in good works, in happy hearts, in shining, joy-filled lives, in clean-swept chambers of thought—not alone in musical song or organ tone. Preaching the Word of God is not merely pronouncing wordy dissertations, however clever, however moral, however timely, to public thought; it is presenting the provable truth, and proving it by living it, presenting the fruits as evidence. And communion is observed in the partaking of the Christ-spirit, the manifestation of that unity with God which Jesus demonstrated for himself and for all with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts willing and humble enough to follow in his footsteps.
Man is the infinite idea of infinite divine Principle; therefore, the temple in which he serves his God,— the marvelous edifice which perfect thinking and perfect living and perfect loving construct,—is likewise infinite. Every right thought may be said to be a stone in its walls; every Christlike deed, a window through which the light of Love may shine; every sacrifice of self, every fast of sense, its dome and tower; and every feast of Spirit crowns its pinnacles with inextinguishable light, shining forth as beacons to storm-tossed navigators, exploring troubled seas in search of a sure abiding place.
