Mrs. Eddy, in her book "Unity of Good," writes (p. 8): "All that is beautiful and good in your individual consciousness is permanent. That which is not so is illusive and fading."
Human experience shows that a casual observer may admire many things as both beautiful and good, yet an expert may see that some of them are not beautiful, and some not even good. A beginner in an art school sees a picture which he admires, yet further study of the subject may reveal to him faults in its composition which detract from his admiration. On the other hand, as he studies the work of a master, the student's admiration of the picture grows with his further knowledge, for he better understands the difficulties which the technique of the master has overcome. In his own work the student does not start out to find difficulties, but his increasing understanding of art uncovers them, and shows him how to overcome them. Ignorance is no asset in any undertaking, but, until rightly instructed, the ignorant one is ignorant of his own ignorance.
The Apostle John, in the book of Revelation, tells of his vision of the angel who had in his hand a little book open, and who said, "Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey." Sometimes the new student of Christian Science, like the art novice, still looking through material sense testimony, thinks he now sees everything as beautiful and good. Possibly Christian Science has healed him of some ailment which had been pronounced serious, if not fatal, and the renewed sense of health is "sweet as honey." At this stage he is possibly not prepared to settle down to consecrated mental work and study. But without these he will not acquire that knowledge of spiritual law which will enable him to discard the errors of sense testimony, while enhancing his appreciation of the truly beautiful and good.
