A Philosopher of ancient times named Thales, a man of no mean reputation, once declared, "For a man to know himself is the hardest task he can master." Considering man from the ordinary philosophical and theological viewpoints, that is undoubtedly true, for the hypothetical nature of these viewpoints hinders spiritual selfknowledge. It is a truism that most people have but a slight acquaintance with themselves; yet to understand one's true selfhood and make good use of that understanding is vitally important to everyone.
The student of Christian Science early learns that personal sense can tell him nothing about himself except falsities; that he must reject the testimony of personal sense as being at all times fallacious, and seek to understand the great scientific truth enunciated by the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, in the words: "God, the divine Principle of man, and man in God's likeness are inseparable, harmonious, and eternal." "God and man are not the same, but in the order of divine Science, God and man coexist and are eternal" (Science and Health with key to the Scriptures, p. 336).
No true concept of man's coexistence with and inseparability from God can be formed by the material senses, and it should be equally plain to all thinking people that these senses can be neither the basis for teaching nor the avenue for acquiring an understanding of man's true selfhood. God and man coexist and are inseparable as divine Principle, or Mind, and Mind's spiritual idea or reflection. This truth is demonstrable when understood. It is, in fact, demonstrated in all Christian Science healing, and there can be no self-knowledge apart from demonstrable spiritual understanding. Christ Jesus taught man's oneness with God, and his demonstrations of man's God-bestowed power over every so-called material law were based on his perfect understanding of that glorious truth. He refuted and denounced the testimony of personal sense and gave "knowledge of salvation" to humanity through spiritual self-knowledge, that is, by demonstrating his understanding that man's true status is in spiritual selfhood.
