The basis of all demonstration in Christian Science is the great fact that God is Spirit and His entire creation is spiritual, the complete and perfect reflection of His complete and perfect being. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, makes this clear in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," where on page 259 she writes, "The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,—perfect God and perfect man,—as the basis of thought and demonstration." Accepting ever-present perfection as the basis of "thought and demonstration," one readily sees that his work is not to improve what is called matter, change matter, perfect matter, or accumulate matter. His work is to turn away from the illusions of material sense and through spiritual understanding bring to light the uninterrupted perfection and harmonious activity of Spirit.
Christ Jesus gave the true basis of demonstration when he said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." May we not interpret this as meaning, "Accept as your true selfhood the perfect expression of the perfect Principle, which is the source of your being"? Accepting this truth as the divine premise of thought and declaration, one comes "boldly unto the throne of grace" and finds "grace to help in time of need." If one has fully accepted the true basis of demonstration, there will be no timidity in one's declaration of truth, no reservation, no duality of thought. Mrs. Eddy says on page 264 of "Miscellaneous Writings": "Unity is the essential nature of Christian Science. Its Principle is One, and to demonstrate the divine One, demands oneness of thought and action."
Sometimes we meet what might be called a "yes, but—" student of Christian Science, one who makes perfectly good, clear statements of truth and then shuts the door on what he calls demonstration with a "but." Does not one sometimes hear a statement like this: ''Yes, I know that Love is my supply, that it is ever present and abundant—but this fact is not demonstrated"? Does this not mean a belief in two kinds of substance or supply, one material and one spiritual, and that an effort is being made to use one to manipulate the other? To keep one eye on Spirit and one eye on matter, watching for effects, is to be double-minded and is far from demonstrating the "divine One."
