"A Man of knowledge increaseth strength." Knowledge of God, divine Principle, is the one all-inclusive gain to be unremittingly sought. This knowledge is not acquired academically, through the brain, but spiritually, through spiritual sense. Spirit, God, imparts this sense without measure. Our knowledge of God is always open to increase, for infinite good is unfathomable. "But to understand God is the work of eternity, and demands absolute consecration of thought, energy, and desire," Mrs. Eddy says on page 3 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures."
Of the child Jesus it was said that he "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." It was not wise training or human education, but direct spiritual inspiration, which brought him this divine knowledge and prepared him for his final achievement of victory over death. The whole "thought, energy, and desire" of Christ Jesus was directed to increasing his knowledge of God and of his own spiritual sonship. His life purpose was to give the world accumulating evidence of the redemptive power of this knowledge. And this exalted purpose was incomparably fulfilled in him.
John the Baptist, still identifying himself with materiality, said of Christ Jesus and of himself, "He must increase, but I must decrease." Through the application of Christian Science, the superstitious belief in evil will decrease to the vanishing point and the understanding of God will increase until infinite spiritual perfection is acknowledged to be the sole reality of existence. The price of freedom is increasing alertness in rejecting untrue beliefs, and unfalteringly entertaining the true ideas of divine Mind.
