MARY BAKER EDDY writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 442), that "truth cannot be reversed, but the reverse of error is true." We cannot fear, then, that the truth can ever be reversed. This should give us great confidence; for whatever the seeming, in Christian Science we have a weapon that cannot be turned back. Error of belief, however, can be and should be reversed. Since false belief is always a counterfeit, its exact opposite will be found to be genuine. One of the errors that can be thus reversed is the false claim of reversal itself.
The error of reversal may appear in the form of an argument that the progress of one whose thought, under the guidance of Truth, has been growing Godward can be stopped and impelled in the opposite direction. The error of this claim is obvious. We should therefore reasonably expect to be able by reversing it to arrive at a statement of scientific fact, And this is the case. On page 19 of "Miscellaneous Writings" Mrs. Eddy writes that "he who has named the name of Christ, who has virtually accepted the divine claims of Truth and Love in divine Science, is daily departing from evil." As to the protection of such a one, and the law of progress which his allegiance and his faithfulness have enabled him to apply, she then says, "And all the wicked endeavors of suppositional demons can never change the current of that life from steadfastly flowing on to God, its divine source." Is this not in harmony with these words from the one hundred and twenty-sixth psalm: "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him"?
This would-be thief, called reversal, may try to come upon one in the guise of loneliness or discouragement when one is seemingly bereft, sorrowful, or confused by a multiplicity of problems. Since subtlety of approach is its only hope of temporary success against one enjoying the protection afforded by Christian Science, the error of reversal sometimes seems to appear to such a one as a suggestion that he cannot think clearly or consistently, or cannot receive what is read or spoken of the truth. This belief of reversal would first pretend to admit the fidelity of the truth and its power, but then would try to neutralize the lawful benefits of this admission by denying to Truth an entrance or foothold in the individual consciousness. This would-be reversal advances the false thesis that there is a place or a condition where God is not the only Mind, and that there is a lack or false concept of Mind which can thwart, interfere with, prevent, or turn aside the operation of the one Mind.
