"God requires wisdom, economy, and brotherly love to characterize all the proceedings of the members of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ, Scientist." Thus wrote Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, in the Manual of The Mother Church (Art. XXIV, Sect. 5), under the heading "God's Requirement." Students of Christian Science should consider well this statement, for inspiration and growth result from one's humble effort to fulfill this divine requirement in daily experience. Christian Science churches throughout the world bear in mind and seek to comply with this divine requirement, which results in progress and spiritual enlightenment for members collectively and individually.
On page 492 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," written by Mrs. Eddy, we read, "For right reasoning there should be but one fact before the thought, namely, spiritual existence." If at times we may be tempted to believe there is reason for self-pity, self-justification, self-condemnation, resentment, pride, discord, disease, despair, it is then that we must remember that real existence is spiritual, and that Life is above the reach of material beliefs. In the study of Christian Science, we learn that the suggestion that man can be injured, misunderstood, mistreated, neglected, is an argument of so-called mortal mind, and wholly false. We find healing from all such limiting, depressing beliefs by reasoning from the standpoint of spiritual existence, wherein divine Love is understood to be the only power, the only presence, and man reflects the joy of the knowledge of his divine sonship.
In order that consciousness may be open to the truth of being, we must cultivate willingness to lay aside personal opinions and beliefs, to give up petty prejudices and fears. This is consistent with wisdom and reason. Human opinions, though honest and sincere, may vary widely or be directly opposed to each other; therefore they cannot be depended upon to guide one rightly. But God is perfect, and man cannot be satisfied with less than perfection. In truth, all good is here now, and is available to men through spiritual understanding. Beliefs in personality, physicality, human mentality, are transient, mortal, changeable, unreliable, and wisdom calls upon us to forsake them for the truth about man as the reflection of Spirit, God.
