THE principle of any so-called science can be proved if one understands and applies it. No one ever proved the principle of music or mathematics merely by believing in the principle or by agreeing with it. By the same token one is not a true metaphysician if he does not prove the rules of the Science of Life. Merely believing in Christian Science, loving its teachings, talking about it to friends, or even interesting them in Christian Science, does not make one a genuine Christian Scientist. It is by practicing the rules of this Science of being that one becomes a Christian Scientist "in deed and in truth."
Answering the question, "How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?" Mary Baker Eddy writes in the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 495), "Study thoroughly the letter and imbibe the spirit." And she adds significantly, "Adhere to the divine Principle of Christian Science and follow the behests of God, abiding steadfastly in wisdom, Truth, and Love." Farther on in the same paragraph she states explicitly, "You will learn that in Christian Science the first duty is to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself."
These demands call for action. Mrs. Eddy's coupling of obedience with duty is significant. It is obvious that one cannot fulfill his duty "to obey God, to have one Mind, and to love another as yourself" by yielding obedience to the senses. Vigorous action is required to rebuke and repudiate the false concept that life and mind are in matter, and to replace it with the spiritual fact that God is the one and only Mind, the infinite Principle of being.
