MARY BAKER EDDY writes in her textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 128), "The term Science, properly understood, refers only to the laws of God and to His government of the universe, inclusive of man." And on page 127 of the same book she says that "the term Christian Science relates especially to Science as applied to humanity."
Christian Science thus includes the operation of all spiritual law. Right thinking and right acting demonstrate this law in human experience. May we not, then, say with relation to men that the spiritual law of God, demonstrated in right living, is true Christianity? Jesus the Christ, that preeminent Metaphysician, practiced what he taught. Could Christian Science truly be termed Science unless it were Christian? Could Christianity really be Christian—Christlike— unless it were demonstrable? A Christian is one who thinks and lives according to the teachings of Christ Jesus. To think as Jesus teaches is to have the Mind of Christ. In order to do this one must think scientifically. To demonstrate Science as applied to humanity, one must love one's neighbor as one's self, in order that he may be enabled to help in meeting his neighbor's need.
Many centuries have passed since mankind witnessed the healing work of Christ Jesus, and humanity is still in need of the healing Christ; but humanity, including every Christian Scientist in the world, needs to appreciate Jesus' work better, and to get a fuller acquaintance with it. Mrs. Eddy, the truest Christian since Jesus' time, has written an entire chapter in Science and Health—that entitled "Atonement and Eucharist" —to that end. If one would inherit the kingdom prepared for him "from the foundation of the world," he too must be able to feed the hungry with the bread of heaven, and give to the thirsty freely from the water of Life. He must make ready his seamless robe of self-forgetfulness and purity, if he would clothe the naked. If he would heal the sick, he must needs sweep clean the chambers of his thinking, and allow honesty, obedience, and humility to abide therein. Naught but the Mind of Christ can visit the sin-bound prison and set the captive free. In short, if one would do the works, he must lay off materiality and put on spirituality.
