THERE is no life, truth, intelligence, nor substance in matter. All is infinite Mind and its infinite manifestation, for God is All-in-all." These opening sentences of the "scientific statement of being," to be found on page 468 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, reveal for all time the allness of God, divine Mind, and the nothingness of matter. With the assurance that comes with the realization of these facts, courage is found to be where fear had seemed to be; for when we know—are entirely convinced—that God, good, is All-in-all, what is there to be afraid of? And when our thoughts are God's thoughts, what is there to be afraid with? This inspiring "scientific statement of being" has blessed multitudes of seekers for Truth. The writer found perfect protection and safety during a season of contagion by clinging to the spiritual facts it presents, and by declaring and knowing that God, divine Love, is All, is ever present, and that fear, sickness, and death have no cause, no basis, no foundation or reality, and so can have no power, influence, or presence; therefore cannot stand.
All things that stand, that endure, must have a foundation or base on which to rest; but evil has no base, no foundation in fact; and so it falls. This is what we learn from a careful study of our Leader's writings as a whole—that evil, falsity, animal magnetism, have no foundation; that only that which is true, good, spiritual, rests upon the real foundation, the Rock of Christ, Truth, on which Jesus built. Speaking of this enduring foundation, our Leader says in Science and Health (p. 138): "On this spiritually scientific basis Jesus explained his cures, which appeared miraculous to outsiders. He showed that diseases were cast out neither by corporeality, by materia medica, nor by hygiene, but by the divine Spirit, casting out the errors of mortal mind. The supremacy of Spirit was the foundation on which Jesus built." The Psalmist sang with gratitude of this Rock, which he had found to be his secure refuge, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
It is the knowing that God, good, alone is present, that good alone is power, which causes the baseless, supposititious claims of evil to fall. Our Master said, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." As we know the truth about God, we find Him to be Mind, Life, Truth, Love, Spirit, ever present and all-powerful, all-knowing, the source of all right activity. As we know the truth about man made in the image and likeness of God, we see only the qualities that are Godlike—like God. We see man expressing intelligence, being truthful, loving, gentle, patient, kind, honest, just, reflecting health, harmony, and joy. Thus to know the truth about God and His reflection, man, dispels illusion, fear, ignorance, prejudice, and superstition, the specters Satan would employ to prevent or interfere with the consummation of our demonstrations in Christian Science and with our learning its fundamental truths. As we become conscious of the ever-presence of God, divine Love, error disappears, as a shadow flees before the rays of the sun. As we learn to realize the truth, we also learn to see the nothingness of error; and we find that the latter has no power to do anything.
