At the present time, when so-called mortal mind theories are coming to the front with all their attempts to maintain belief in the reality of matter, it is expedient for the Christian Scientist to search well his habits of thought to see whether or not he is maintaining the line of demarcation between the spiritual universe of thought—God's creation— and a so-called physical or material universe.
In recent years many a system of mental gymnastics has found protection and apparently sturdy growth under the label "metaphysical"; and it is not to be wondered at that much has claimed to be Christian Science which will not measure up to the standard of Christian metaphysics. The Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy, has set forth in no unmistakable terms the only permissible standard of metaphysics to be used in the practice of Christian Science. All must be based on God as Spirit, Mind, and man as spiritual, made in God's image and likeness.
To divest thought of all that is physical in the demonstration of Christian metaphysical healing is a standard that must be strictly adhered to if successful practice in Christian Science is to continue. There must necessarily come a time in the experience of all when correct Christian metaphysical deduction alone will clear the mental horizon and bring freedom to the patient. No better illustration of the modus operandi of such realization has been given for our guidance than in the following statement from pages 476 and 477 of our textbook: "Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God's own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick."
