Mrs. Eddy makes plain and practical the meaning of Jesus' pronouncement, "I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." In referring to it, she says (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 474), "Is it possible, then, to believe that the evils which Jesus lived to destroy are real or the offspring of divine will?"
Firm in the recognition that God's will, invariably, impartially, is spiritual perfection, Jesus' spiritual understanding pierced the clouds of material sense. In restoring to those who sought his aid, health, purity, sight, speech, activity, the Master destroyed the opposite mental delusions objectified on their bodies. Now, as delusion is the insigne of nothingness, this nothingness cannot well be thought of as being destroyed, but rather as vanishing when exposed to the light of Truth. For this reason one must be willing to part with every hard and fast belief that something real which one seems to be experiencing needs actually to be destroyed. How can one accomplish this? By determining to exchange the old belief in the need of destroying something actual for the joyous scientific privilege of manifesting health, innocence, and harmony here and now, in fulfillment of God's will.
The Christian Scientist is engaged in this same ministry of fulfillment, not destruction. Therefore, should anyone contend for the reality of his troubles while desiring to be freed from them, he would be frustrating his own desire. The rules of Christian Science must be observed if one would win its rewards. To one who applies for Christian Science treatment it may seem that some physical disease has to be destroyed, some deeply rooted sin exterminated, some gaunt want or sorrow annihilated. To his darkened sense these may appear to be stark and self-perpetuating realities, and he himself their rebellious victim. That these errors must cease to be manifested is obvious, but this will not be accomplished by arguing for their destruction as actualities, for they are always inactual. One must therefore cease insisting upon their presence and substantiality.
