THE essence of Christian Science is the demonstrable revelation that Spirit and spiritual existence alone are real. When this great truth of being is accepted, whatever is unlike pure Mind or Spirit must, obviously, be conceded as unreal and transitory. By means of this distinction between divine reality and mortal illusion every human problem may be, and eventually must be, worked out. Those who have already perceived and accepted the teaching of Christian Science are immeasurably blessed in being able to look out upon human existence and to face its problems from a standpoint of spiritual understanding and power. Added to this privilege is the duty so to live and labor that the day may be hastened when all mankind shall recognize and seek to come within the healing influence of Christian Science.
Every conscious endeavor of the Christian Scientist, then, should be ruled by the desire to forsake mortal concepts, so that all things and experiences may be viewed in the light of spiritual reality. Since Spirit is God, and since "with God all things are possible," mortal belief can never restrain or limit spiritual power. It is, therefore, within the scope of scientific demonstration to overcome individual mortal belief "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." The possibility of instantaneous demonstration should never be doubted. If, however, in general human experience, the emergence from materiality—the illusive inheritance of the ages—appears to be a gradual process, it need not for that reason be a dilatory or a slothful one. There may be continuous advancement. Each day may witness some spiritual victory; each night may register some thought nearer God.
The acceptance of the truth concerning spiritual existence, as revealed in Christian Science, marks the beginning of a conflict in thought between the real and the unreal; and this struggle cannot cease until every mortal belief yields to immortal Truth. The yielding, however, need not be distressful. Indeed, when one learns lovingly and promptly to surrender his errors of belief, as he detects them, he has already entered upon the fair road of spiritual progress. Mrs. Eddy, who explored the whole process of exchanging the material for the spiritual sense of existence, early learned to take the side of the spiritual and real and to abide by that vision and realization, thereby hastening the end of the conflict of the senses against Spirit. Of this warfare she writes in "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 172): "Mental Science, and the five personal senses, are at war; and peace can only be declared on the side of immutable right, —the health, holiness, and immortality of man. To gain this scientific result, the first and fundamental rule of Science must be understood and adhered to; namely, the oft-repeated declaration in Scripture that God is good; hence, good is omnipotent and omnipresent."
