The question of supply is one that has occupied the thoughts of mortals throughout the ages. It is associated with most human problems. Wherever we look, at home or abroad, in the family circle, business world, or in the national or international political world, there is a seeking for needful supply. Mankind with its limited views has reasoned from a material basis, and therefore sought after material supply. It has remained unsatisfied, because matter is limited in every way. Material sense judges according to the belief in good and evil. This false sense is distrustful, and is always afraid of losing what it thinks it has; and so its worries grow, and its longings remain unsatisfied.
Christian Science changes all this. It turns the gaze away from matter to Spirit, God, and teaches men how to think and pray aright, and thus to obtain the right answers to their prayers. It teaches that man is spiritual, and that Spirit alone is substance. Through Christian Science we learn how to distinguish between the evanescent testimony of the material senses and that which is spiritual, real, and lasting. Material sense testimony is that of the five so-called material senses; and the Bible assures us that this evidence is temporal. Paul says, "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." so-called mortal mind demands to see, hear, feel, taste, and smell materially, or it is not satisfied. It believes it must have matter, because it cannot cognize spiritual realities; it cannot have faith in the spiritual unseen, because it wants first to see and feel materially; its god is itself; it believes its own opinions, and trusts no further. In Hebrews we read, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." This corresponds with Mrs. Eddy's great discovery that all is in reality divine Mind, and that matter is but mortal error, as she tells us in the "scientific statement of being" on page 468 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." Matter is limited by the beliefs of sight, touch, taste, hearing,and smell; and if these senses cannot perceive a thing, then it is supposed not to be present, and mortals cry out for it.
Now let us analyze substance as a quality of faith. According to Webster's dictionary, faith is "the recognition of spiritual realities . . . as of paramount authority and supreme value." And "paramount" means "superior to all others." So, to have faith means to have confidence in spiritual realities, to recognize them as supreme in value, and to trust to them as authorized by the creator, because they have their origin in divine Mind. How can this supply our daily needs? Suppose a businessman has many clients who say they cannot pay him. He goes to them for the money they owe him, but they have many excuses: they plead poverty, hard times, no work, and so on; and our friend is sent empty away. He may sue them for what they have not got, but that does not help him; the need remains unsupplied. Now, if this same business-man were a Christian Scientist who knew that "faith is the substance of things hoped for," what would he do? He would apply his understanding of spiritual substance to his problem. He would have faith in spiritual realities, for they belong to God's idea, man; they have their origin in the Mind which is God. He would contemplate spiritual ideas, such as honesty, faithfulness, integrity, diligence, carefulness, promptness, justice, righteousness, truthfulness, and so on. He would know that these are supreme in value and paramount in authority. Thus he would look to divine Mind to govern his affairs. And so the truth would free him from worry as he waited to see the glory of God appear.
